Reference Guide#

Introduction#

The SSN Name Match Web Service validates First and Last Names against Social Security Numbers for verification.

Base URL#

https://namessn.melissadata.net

Licensing#

The License Key is a software key required to use the web service. You will receive your license key from your Melissa representative. If you don’t have a license key, contact the Melissa sales team at Sales@Melissa.com or 800-MELISSA ext. 3 (800-635-4772 ext. 3). Without a license key, SSN Name Match will not function.

To set the license key, use the id/CustomerID property in your requests.

Endpoints#

/v4/web/SSN/doLookup#

Check if the Social Security Number is within the acceptable range, and match against the First and Last Name.

Try It Now#

  • GET JSON
  • POST JSON
curl -X GET "https://namessn.melissadata.net/v4/web/SSN/doLookup?\
&format=json\
&id={{customerId}}\
&first=John\
&full=John%20Doe\
&last=Doe\
&ssn=111222333" \
curl -X POST "https://namessn.melissadata.net/v4/web/SSN/doLookup" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Accept: application/json" \
-d '{
      "CustomerID": {{customerId}},
      "Records": [
         {
            "FirstName": "John",
            "FullName":"John Doe",
            "LastName": "Doe",
            "RecordID": "1",
            "SSN": "111222333"
         }
      ]
   }'

Request Parameters#

  • GET JSON
  • POST JSON

Code

Description

Request Level Parameters

format

Sets the format of the response.

id

This is a string value containing the License Key issued to the customer by Melissa Data for the web service.

t

Optional. Serves as a unique request identifier.

Record Level Parameters

first

The given (first) name.

full

This field can contain a full name. We will parse and check Names only if the First Name and Last Name fields are left blank.

last

The family (last) name.

ssn

This is a string value containing the Social Security Number. All hyphens are ignored when submitting the SSN. We recommended using only numbers when submitting the SSN.

Code

Description

Request Level Parameters

TransmissionReference

Optional. Serves as a unique request identifier.

UserId

This is a string value containing the License Key issued to the customer by Melissa Data for the web service.

Record Level Parameters

FirstName

The given (first) name.

FullName

This field can contain a full name. We will parse and check Names only if the First Name and Last Name fields are left blank.

LastName

The family (last) name.

RecordID

This is a string value containing a unique identifier for the current record. Use this to match the record submitted with the record returned. It will return what is inputted.

SSN

This is a string value containing the Social Security Number. All hyphens are ignored when submitting the SSN. We recommended using only numbers when submitting the SSN.

Headers#

  • GET JSON
  • POST JSON
 Content-Type: application/json
 Accept: application/json
 Content-Type: application/json
 Accept: application/json

Response#

  • GET JSON
  • POST JSON
{
  "TransmissionResults":"",
  "TransmissionReference":"",
  "Version":"6.2.0.1028",
  "TotalRecords":"1",
  "Records":[
      {
          "RecordID":"1",
          "SSN":"111222333",
          "IssuingState":"New York",
          "Results":"SN07",
          "ResultsFromDataSource":"TU01"
      }
  ]
}
{
  "TransmissionResults":"",
  "TransmissionReference":"",
  "Version":"6.2.0.1028",
  "TotalRecords":"1",
  "Records":[
      {
          "RecordID":"1",
          "SSN":"111222333",
          "IssuingState":"New York",
          "Results":"SN07",
          "ResultsFromDataSource":"TU01"
      }
  ]
}
Service Level Response Fields#

Output Name

Description

Version

The current service version number.

TransmissionReference

A pass-through of the input TransmissionReference field.

TransmissionResults

Lists error codes from any errors caused by the most recent request as a whole.

TotalRecords

Total number of records.

Record Level Response Fields#

Output Name

Description

RecordID

The number of the record. Always 1 for a single request, otherwise it serves as an index of the array of records.

SSN

Returned string value of the Social Security Number submitted for validation.

IssuingState

A string value of the issued state calculated by using the SSN Area Number (first 3 digits of the SSN).

Results

Comma delimited status, error codes, and change codes for the record.

Input Best Practices#

This service can deal with multiple languages and scripts. It expects UTF-8 encoding. Be on the lookout for question marks (?), squares (▖) or other unwanted characters like �. They may be an indication of encoding issues and may result in data loss. Bad encoding or character loss is not something our service can correct for you.

Result Codes#

Melissa products use a result code system to indicate data quality; the status and any errors. These result codes are four-character codes (two letters followed by two numbers), delimited by commas. Result code definitions are shared among Melissa Data products.

Understanding the Code#

To fully understand result codes, you need to know them. Knowing what codes are possible and what they indicate will be key in building an effective application. It is useful to know all the codes, but this does not necessarily mean you will use them all. Just because you have a toolbox, doesn’t mean you will also try to use a screwdriver along with a hammer on a nail.

Record Level Result Codes#

Code

Short Description

Long Description

SN - Security Number Codes

SN01

Invalid SSN Format or Number

The SSN had too many or too few digits.

SN02

SSN Not Found in our Records

The SSN was not found in the reference database. This indicates either a number not issued or a number that has been issued but is not available.

SN03

SSN is on the DECEASED List

The SSN was found on the deceased list – no matching was made to the input name as this number is no longer active.

SN04

SSN and FULL Name Match our Records

The SSN matched to both the first and last name of the input record.

SN05

SSN and LAST Name Match our Records

The SSN and last name match, but the first names did not match.

SN06

SSN and FIRST Name Match our Records

The SSN and the first name matched, and first name could be female.

SN07

SSN and NAME do NOT Match our Records

The SSN belongs to a name different from the one that was input.

SN08

SSN and LAST Name, First Name Initial Match our Records

The SSN number matched the last name, but was unable to fully match the first name as only an initial was provided.

SE - Transmission Service Error

SE01

Cloud Service Internal Error

The cloud service experienced an internal error.

GE - General Transmission Error

GE01

Empty Request Structure

The SOAP, JSON, or XML request structure is empty. Not to be confused with the GE01 GeoCode result code.

GE02

Empty Request Record Structure

The SOAP, JSON, or XML request record structure is empty. Not to be confused with the GE02 GeoCode result code.

GE03

Records Per Request Exceeded

The counted records sent more than the number of records allowed per request.

GE04

Empty License Key

The License Key is empty.

GE05

Invalid License Key

The License Key is invalid.

GE06

Disabled License Key

The License Key is disabled.

GE07

Invalid Request

The SOAP, JSON, or XML request is invalid.

GE08

Product/Level Not Enabled

The License Key is invalid for this product or level.

GE09

Customer Does Not Exist

The Customer ID is not in our system.

GE10

Customer License Disabled

The encrypted license is on the ban list.

GE11

Customer Disabled

The Customer ID is disabled.

GE12

IP Blacklisted

The IP Address is on the global ban list.

GE13

IP Not Whitelisted

The IP Address is not on the customer’s whitelist.

GE14

Out of Credits

The account has ran out of credits. Add more credits to continue using the service.