[markf31]

While I agree about your concern with having to provide a SS number for registration, having to provide a phone number and other hobby/auction references is as much for your own protection as it is for the protection of the other bidders and consignors. Having a name, address and credit card on file does not guarantee you'll pay at all. You can easily cancel the credit card or claim it was lost/stolen and have the bank issue a new one with a new number so you can skip on your obligation to pay and now the AH is unable to process the transaction. This is why most AHs do not accept credit cards, they only use them to verify your name and address and require a check, MO, cashier check or money wire. Heritage is an exception and not the rule in that they accept credit cards for payment on auction items.