During the renting of her dwelling, one of our members was asked by Hydro-Quebec for the SSN (Social Security number) of her new tenant in order to carry out the change of responsibility for the meter. Mrs. St-Pierre who did not consider this information to be useful saw her request not-treated, Hydro-Quebec affirming not to be able to take any pursuant action because the SSN is missing.
According to some one cannot require a new tenant to give his/her SSN. He can refuse to give this significant information prone to identity theft and fraud. In 2003 the Commission of Access to Information reiterated this principle in the decision Julien vs. Domaine Laudance. This case in point has also made jurisprudence at the Régie du logement in 2010 (Roy vs. L’Heureux).
“On this subject, in a decision rendered in January 2003, the Commission of Access to Information thinks that the Social Security number......, received from a candidate tenant was not necessary for the analysis of his credit file”.
We joined Hydro-Quebec to ask for a clarification on the practice and here is their answer: “The Social Security number is a piece of information which the customer must provide for the subscription to the service of electricity, this requirement results from a decision of 1995 of the Commission of Access to Information and is envisaged under the operating conditions approved by the Régie de l’énergie: paragraph 5.4 and appendix 1.
Therefore, the owner who asks for the SSN can find himself in a conflictual situation, on the other hand, according to the policy of Hydro-Quebec this number must be given to carry out the change of responsibility for the meters.
Two weights, two measures and a lot of complications…
According to some one cannot require a new tenant to give his/her SSN. He can refuse to give this significant information prone to identity theft and fraud. In 2003 the Commission of Access to Information reiterated this principle in the decision Julien vs. Domaine Laudance. This case in point has also made jurisprudence at the Régie du logement in 2010 (Roy vs. L’Heureux).
“On this subject, in a decision rendered in January 2003, the Commission of Access to Information thinks that the Social Security number......, received from a candidate tenant was not necessary for the analysis of his credit file”.
We joined Hydro-Quebec to ask for a clarification on the practice and here is their answer: “The Social Security number is a piece of information which the customer must provide for the subscription to the service of electricity, this requirement results from a decision of 1995 of the Commission of Access to Information and is envisaged under the operating conditions approved by the Régie de l’énergie: paragraph 5.4 and appendix 1.
Therefore, the owner who asks for the SSN can find himself in a conflictual situation, on the other hand, according to the policy of Hydro-Quebec this number must be given to carry out the change of responsibility for the meters.
Two weights, two measures and a lot of complications…