Allow Social Security Numbers to be option rather then required
Make an option for Social Security Numbers to be option rather required. Some people do not feel comfortable posting them. We should be able to give them the option.
We have published a System Update today that will somewhat resolve this request. Allow me to explain… We’e wrestled with this idea for a little while in that we don’t feel comfortable making the SSNs optional, because the liability of collecting that information would be on us for supplying the field and people would perceive that we are asking for that information. Now obviously, we would never misuse someone’s SSN, but all this is planning for an absolute worst case scenario and also making sure our user base feels comfortable with the information they supply.
When we give the scheduler the ability to “require” the SSN then the information was required by someone specific, therefore adjusting liability to the scheduler for any misuse of that information since they required it. This also changes the perception of the users when they see that it is the scheduler requesting the information, not us.In any case, we have come up with a sort of compromise. We have released today the ability to create CUSTOM profile fields to a user’s profile which will allow you to gather information from your users in both an option or mandatory capacity. In theory, you can collect whatever information you want there, but as a disclaimer, we cannot and do not recommend collecting personal information of any sort – including, but not limited to social security number, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc. With that being said, this is our recommendation, but the custom fields do allow you to collect any sort of information, so long as you are willing to accept liability for misuse of that information and you are advised that your users will again be told that it is the scheduler requesting the information, not us.
Hope that all makes sense. Thank you for the feature request.