It didn't ask for any information about employment, house payments or monthly income. As promised on the company's homepage, The Texan was approved for a credit card within 60 seconds. Alan Elias, Aria's media relations spokesperson, said the fraud checks occur before and after the approval. The fraud check, which verifies the telephone number and address with a credit bureau, occurs after this fee is paid. The librarians were helpful and didn't seem suspicious about trying to check out a book with only a Social Security number.
IDs accepted by the center include driver licenses and passports.
The Texan was able to make a purchase at Cypress Bend, the store in San Jacinto Dormitory, by giving the cashier only a Social Security number. Sheila Ochner, associate director of housing and food, said school IDs are required for all Dining Dollar purchases. In some cases when an ID has been demagnitized or the strip on the back is not scanning, the cashier may ask for the student ID, which is usually the Social Security number, and process the purchase that way. The Campus Stores are not owned or operated by the Division of Housing and Food Service, but the same rules regarding Dining Dollars apply. Any cashier who does not abide by the rules will be given a warning and retaught the rules of Dining Dollar use.