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Hell, they used to ask for a credit card number before they'd take a check and scribble it down on the front for anyone to see. Compared to that, the unlisted number is harmless. Still...
What I'd do is use this number: 382.5633. This spells out \"F*ck Off\" and will give you a happy glow inside when you give it out. I promise.
It's a weak response, but since i work in retail here it is:
I've been told that the system some places use (Certegy) verifies your phone number as part of accepting the check. It will prompt the cashier for the info. If this is the case your check will decline if you give the wrong info.
The place i currently work doesn't ask for the phone # so i guess it doesn't matter, but i've had places that when i look on the endorsement that prints, it actually prints the phone # on the back of the check too.
I usually give people a flat \"no\" when they ask for info at the register if it's unrelated to my method of payment.
My other advice is that most banks will issue a check/debit card for free, most often with a visa or MC logo on it, that will work anywhere those cards are accepted. No questions asked and it comes right out of your account.
I always provide my fax number whenever any retailer asks for my phone number.
If they choose to add me to a mailing list, they get the annoying beeps when they call and I hear nothing.
When a retailer needs to reach me, they use the other methods I have already provided. For example, Travelocity needed to tell me something about a trip detail this summer. Since they couldn't reach me by phone, they emailed me instead, which is what I prefer.
Where I work we take the drivers license number, that way we get picture I.D. and can match an address to what is on the check. I haven't had anyone ever complain or refuse. Besides, Drivers license information is pubic record, easily found with a name or address.
If I had a fax number, I might provide that; but I don't.
Any recommendations on how one can still make a purchase with a check while refusing to provide a phone number? The management at retail stores are often blindly loyal to corporate policy, and no amount of logical explication seems to sway them.
What's wrong with providing any random number? I do that all the time. Whenever I'm in a similar situation and sense that the information I give cannot be immediately verified, I just make things up. Fake name, ID number, tax number, address, phone, the works.
Just give them the number '2' and watch the confusion happen.
You can always do what a customer did to my fellow co-worker at Best Buy: say \"867-5309.\"
Jenny!
/was only holiday help at BB at tech desk before they went Geek Squad
The bank's phone number is already on the check, so I don't understand why they need mine as well. Before the advent of debit cards they used to ask for a corrected address as well. Counter checks weren't acceptable, but an incorrectly pre-printed one (that they manually corrected) was. Why? If they're not going to call they're certainly not going to visit.
As for ZIP code, I assume retailers use it to determine distance shoppers have travelled to shop. It's usually not the retailers that hawk purchase information - it's the bank issuing the cards.
Since they would ultimately contact your bank I would provide your bank's phone number.
Giving a wrong number \"may\" be considered check fraud (Pure Speculation)
Does your bank have an answer at all or the BBB?