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PLANO (CBSDFW.COM) - More than 26,000 utility customers in Plano received a flyer with this month's bill warning them the city may give out personal information if they didn't fill it out. Included in the type of sensitive information they would release was: social security numbers, customer's addresses and telephone numbers.

"That is just absolutely amazing that a social security number could be given out," said Plano Resident, Bob Innes. "This was news to me!"

But the flyer may not be as cryptic as some may think. City spokesperson Steve Stoler said Plano stopped collecting social security numbers three years ago and refuses to release them.

"A lot of people are concerned because they see that social security number is listed on the card, so the first thing they think is anyone can call the city and get their social security and that's not the case," said Stoler.

But the wording on the cards is taken straight from the Texas utilities code, which allows municipalities to give all that information out. Unless, that is… the customer formally asks them not to.

"If a person signs a confidentiality card asking for confidentiality, none of their information is given out," said Stoler.

The same wording is on similar forms sent by the city of Dallas, Garland and Wylie. All of those cities, including Plano, will give out customer information to anyone requesting it.

The biggest collector of that data, according to Plano is the Chamber of Commerce, which passes it on to local businesses.

Innes is one of many who aren't fond of the deal.

"Somebody in the city - who we pay tax dollars to is now in charge of funneling the information for the people who don't sign this to the Chamber so they can send out coupons for their members," he said. "It bothers me that a chamber of commerce would want that information for that purpose.

Customers generally get the "confidentiality card" when they first sign up for water service.  Plano decided to send it out this month with this month's bill after a recent complaint.

So far, fewer than two percent of those who received it have returned it.

Any Plano residents wishing to have their accounts marked confidential may e-mail CUSinformation@plano.gov.

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