Background Checks for League Owners/Leaders

[Abandicoot]

Hello everyone, as I'm sure you know background checks have been initiated for volunteers involved with the Myplay programs. I think this is a great idea. Checking criminal records, etc. I don't mind getting references or any of that. The main thing I'm having a problem with is giving out my social security number. (Isn't my record public information anyway? ) Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I've always been taught to be extra careful with that number. My current league is great and I'd really REALLY hate to lose it. I don't know what to do. Even if I thought it was ok, my mom wouldn't. Am I the only person who's leery about giving their social security number?

 

[Forte]

Hello everyone, as I'm sure you know background checks have been initiated for volunteers involved with the Myplay programs. I think this is a great idea. Checking criminal records, etc. I don't mind getting references or any of that. The main thing I'm having a problem with is giving out my social security number. (Isn't my record public information anyway? ) Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I've always been taught to be extra careful with that number. My current league is great and I'd really REALLY hate to lose it. I don't know what to do. Even if I thought it was ok, my mom wouldn't. Am I the only person who's leery about giving their social security number?

I have the same feeling. Being a LL/LO/TO/PTO is really nice, but as far as im concerned, giving away you SSN could ruin your life it in the wrong hands. I also feel uncomfortable about it too but it really speeds up the process of the background check.

I have known others who have turned in applications/forms without the SSN

 

[EeveeLover]

From what has been said on the Pokemon forums regarding the information security, only two people have access to the room where the records are kept. Dave S. does not even have access to the files.

They are kept as paper files, not electronic, so they are not kept on computer with a risk of hacking.

The only way for that information to get loose would be to gain access to that room, which is inside several other card / key access rooms. Sounds pretty secure to me.

My real life job is Physical and Corporate Security, I know how these things are set up and how hard it is to get past the systems.

Bottom line, I trust the Pokemon people to keep my info private and secure.

You just have to ask yourself how trusting you are and how much you want to continue to be a part of P!P.

For the people that are submitting without the SSN, that is the same as not submitting at all. That has been pretty well covered.

I would suggest you take a look at the posts in the TPCi forums to read up more on the whats and whys of this project.

 

[DarkBlade]

The pokemon people are very trustworthy. I would trust them with my life.

So, dont worry.
Posted with Mobile style...

 

[Abandicoot]

So I guess basically my only option is to bow out and forget about my league... As I said I don't think I'll be able to justify this to my mother. I really thought bg checks were possible without a social security number. What other sorts of things do they look at aside from a criminal record?

 

[PokePop]

So I guess basically my only option is to bow out and forget about my league... As I said I don't think I'll be able to justify this to my mother. I really thought bg checks were possible without a social security number. What other sorts of things do they look at aside from a criminal record?

There are some things that are worth taking a stand on and dealing with the consequences of staning up for a postion.


This in not one of those things.
You're going to be giving your Social Security Number out a lot in the coming years, as you go to college and/or get jobs.

Don't post it on the internet, sure.
But don't bury it 6 miles down in a salt mine, either.

 

[ninetales1234]

I got LifeLock about 18 months ago, and it insures members for up to 1 million dollars if someone uses your SS number to take something away from you. I've been safe so far

As a matter of principle, I do have objections to this criminal background check thing for being a League Leader. For one thing, when SS numbers were introduced, they were not given out to be used as ID numbers. One of the problems with criminal background checks is that people who are really good at being criminals (i.e. the ones who don't get caught) are not going to have a criminal record and therefore checking those people will not yield any useful information. I really think this is just a "surface" solution that Play!Pokemon did just for appearances in response to some social pressure from customers. I'm gonna let them do a background check on me, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna like it.

 

[DptyMewtwo]

So the site malfunctioned on me and I wasn't able to get my background form. The site doesn't recognize background checks when you type it into the search so I can't find the form. How do I get the form again? Does anyone know or have the link?

---------- Post added 06/04/2011 at 10:42 AM ----------

That support.pokemon.com doesn't give you a contact us for this problem. If you have problems with software or product you have purchased it gives you a contact but not for background checks

---------- Post added 06/04/2011 at 10:54 AM ----------

Nevermind!! Thanks

 

[Abandicoot]

There are some things that are worth taking a stand on and dealing with the consequences of staning up for a postion.


This in not one of those things.
You're going to be giving your Social Security Number out a lot in the coming years, as you go to college and/or get jobs.

Don't post it on the internet, sure.
But don't bury it 6 miles down in a salt mine, either.

I realize this, and I am in college, however when I registered for college and got my job I was able to personally hand the number off. I don't think I'm burying it in a salt mine, I think it's a reasonable concern. I don't see myself making a stand so much as wishing I could take all the risk out of the equation. True it's a small risk, but it's still there. I don't understand what needs to be checked that isn't public record. Maybe I am being over cautious, but this is how I feel.

 

[chrataxe]

I too have issue with anything that isn't the SS Administration asking for my SSN. Unless Pokemon is checking the status of my eligibility for SS benefits, I can't foresee any reason they would need my SSN....and, I can't for the life of me imagine why they would need to check my SS benefits.


...I know, I know, it HAS become our ID number, but that doesn't make it right and it doesn't mean we should fork it over every time we are asked for it. If it is an issue of speed, maybe Pokemon should give more thorough questionnaire and forgo the SSN and just be slowed down a bit. I sucks, yes, but it is unfortunate that this is the world we live in. It doesn't matter how well guarded this information is, its an issue of probability in this day in age: the more places that have your SSN stashed away, the more probably you are to be a victim of ID theft. The problem is that EVERYONE asks for SSN nowadays and they only ones that need it are the government (in theory) and your employer (to verify citizenship and ensure the employee gets credit for his SS taxes). I shouldn't have to dole out my SSN when I buy a car or play a card game or get a cell phone or change my electricy provider...lets be honest, it IS out of control.

The pokemon people are very trustworthy. I would trust them with my life.

So, dont worry.
Posted with Mobile style...

Its not Pokemon that is the problem...

There are some things that are worth taking a stand on and dealing with the consequences of staning up for a postion.


This in not one of those things.
You're going to be giving your Social Security Number out a lot in the coming years, as you go to college and/or get jobs.

Don't post it on the internet, sure.
But don't bury it 6 miles down in a salt mine, either.

I think this is a bit unfair. It is HIS SSN, I think he should safe guard it however HE feels best. It isn't an issue of taking a stand. In all fairness, he is a "volunteer" for a "kids game," when they starting asking for his SSN, it becomes a bit more real. I can pick up trash by way of adopting a highway and not need to give my SSN. I can mow my elderly neighbor's lawn (assuming we weren't in a bad drought) without giving her my SSN. I think he brings up a very real concern.

For what its worth, I did submit mine with a SSN, but it doesn't mean that I'm comfortable with it

 

[PokePop]

Pokemon's concern is to make sure, as best as they can, that those kids involved in this "kids' game" are not exposed to people that have, to be blunt, records of child abuse.

Without going into details, it is a valid concern and I applaud them addressing it.
If you are unwilling to assist in that, and I understand that you can have legitimate reasons for it, then I also understand why Pokemon will say, "sorry we couldn't agree on this issue, but you can no longer be in charge of any event where you are in charge of little kids".

That's the bottom line. You are not going to get them to change how they handle this as they are concerned with a much bigger, core issue to them as a company.

 

[Abandicoot]

Pokemon's concern is to make sure, as best as they can, that those kids involved in this "kids game" are not exposed to people that have, to be blunt, records of child abuse.

Without going into details, it is a valid concern and I applaud them addressing it.
If you are unwilling to assist in that, and I understand that you can have legitimate reasons for it, then I also understand why Pokemon will say, "sorry we couldn't agree on this issue, but you can no longer be in charge of any event where you are in charge of little kids".

That's the bottom line. You are not going to get them to change how they handle this as they are concerned with a much bigger, core issue to them as a company.

I acknowledged it's validity. I've said my piece as well. I wanted to know if there are others out there who are uncomfortable with it, I got my answer. As far as what pokemon decides to do in my case, I guess that's between me and them. It was never my intent to "change how they handle this". I'm not attacking the company, I'm protecting myself. With that said, I wish everyone the best with what they've chosen to do.

 

[PokePop]

Abandicoot: I perfectly understand.
There was a time when I might have felt the same way about the issue.
It might be possible for them to make exceptions based on individual objections.
However, the problem is that those that they are trying to weed out would also like to limit the information that Pokemon uses in their background checks and so it really wouldn't be workable to allow those exceptions.

 

[Tomcat]

Aren't TOs and PTOs required to fill out a W-9 and/or a W-4? If so, Pokemon has a SSN on us anyway. It wouldn't cover the League Owners and Leaders though.

 

[carlitosbob]

@abandicoot, send it certified and tracked if you're that nervous about it. if you're in college, why would your mother influence who gets your SSN? sure, I'd tell my kids to be careful and to not get credit cards.. but as far as for this? I would even argue. I would simply state that they have it tracked. if it shows up as undilivered for whatever reason, get lifelock for 2 or more years.

 

[SD PokeMom]

just as a FYI: this is being discussed on the league leader forum on the OP site, which 1) all LLs/LOs should have access to via one's OP dashboard and 2) IMHO is the place this *should* be discussed, as the OP team can respond directly to concerns there.

also: currently only LOs (who must be over 18) are being checked, as minimum age for *LLs* is 15...

jmho
'mom

 

[glitch84]

one thing i do know cause i have been involved with vollunteer events where kids are involved is yes they always run a backgroubd check, it would be much more easier if there were something other then your ssn to give out so they could say yes your ok or no your not, but until then it seems thats the way things have to be done, yeah i was thinking of forking over the extra coinage and getting it certified so i know it gets there and is safe, and yeah from what i can tell someone in a league did very bad things to one of the kids so now they have to cover themselves since really they can be help liable for something that serious, so it is understandable. The world isnt always like the cartoons, there are those people that are worse then Team (Whatever the region) that want to do bad things to people, as league leaders when we all sign up we are promising to be responsible people and to represnt pokemon, again as i said i hate the idea of having to give my social but on the same coin i do understand. so its a tough dilema all around.