Originally Posted by GradGirl
That said, I consistently refuse to give private businesses my email, phone number, SSN, zip code, et cetera unless these are absolutely necessary to receive the service requested. I've walked out of stores and refused to make a purchase after the clerk wouldn't give up asking me for my zip code.
I usually give them "20500."
I also routinely give false addresses, phone numbers, and the like when it's clear the business has no need to know. Avis rent-a-car is not going to imprison me for purposely transposing digits of my phone number, but in this era of travel security hysteria the government just might.
Re: transposing digits--good one!
But personally I would give Avis my phone number--they might try to contact me before putting a bogus charge on my credit card and I'd want to know about it in advance.