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Who is entitled to our Legal Names?

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kittenhawk

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
California

What requirements must a company meet in order to be able to demand your full and legal name?

For instance, we can go purchase a burger at a fast food place, pay with cash, and they never ask what your name is. If they wanted to know your name, and you refused to answer, can they also refuse your burger?

What about an entertainment company that provides you with a service? And you pay with cash or temporary credit cards that don't have a name attached?

I would understand companies which are backed by the Government, but not sure who else can demand your legal name.
 


cosine

Senior Member
They can refuse to do business with you for any reason they want, with the exception of a few reasons the law prohibits them from using. Refusing to identify yourself is not one of them. I seriously doubt any burger place would bother. However, any place that extends any kind of credit where you could possibly cheat them out of something by not paying or not performing as agreed, will want to know who they are dealing with first, and rightly so. In some cases, like obtaining prepaid cell phone service, the law requires them to get your identifying information even though you are paying all up front in cash.
 

justalayman

Senior Member
What requirements must a company meet in order to be able to demand your full and legal name?
anybody can demand it. You are not required to supply it if you chose not to. As cosine states, should you decide to not provide the requested info, you simply live with them refusing to so business with you.
 

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