Today I tried to get a contract for a 3G data subscription. Since the mobile operator does not have any stores itself , I went to one of the biggest resellers here in Sweden. The details were discussed, the data card was stocked and the contract was ready to sign. Then they asked for a swedish ID-card, which I don’t have. An austrian passport should be enough, we are talking about the European Union after all. I explained that this shouldn’t be a problem since I already am customer at the very same operator. I also have a swedish civic registration number (“personnumer”, the wet dream of every data-miner; every person in Sweden is relatable to a unique number consisting of birth date + 4 digits) which is basically required for everyday life here in Sweden. You can’t even get a newspaper subscription without it.
Anyway, having such a number, living and working in Sweden, and being a citizen of the EU is obviously not enough. They told me that I just can’t get a contract, because I’m not swedish. And Pulling away the modem from the desk and making a step back is a pretty weird message to the (potential) customer as well. Well, apart from the fact that I already have a contract (how did that happen?), I just don’t think that such a behavior is legal. I don’t know exactly who’s fault it is, my guess is that the reseller has a problem with his policy. Perhaps DO (“The Ombudsman against Ethnic Discrimination”, which also includes restrictions related to the citizenship) can help them to improve their legal performance. A complaint is on its way.
I will order the package (contract plus modem) which I intended to buy directly via the operator’s website. The civic number is enough, nobody cares about citizenships there. Good old Internet. The reseller will never see me again.
Hannes Ebner on development and research 