[cybermuda]

I am a UK citizen and thus do not have a US Social Security number.

Having just bought a house in TV I am having great difficulty signing up for basics such as telephone or credit card, as everyone wants to do a credit check on me using a SSN.

I have visited the Sociasl Security web site and it says that they won't issue a SSN just to help with credit checks as most suppliers are willing to use an alternative method, but this is not so in my experience.

Have any non-US residents found a way to get an SSN?

Thank you