TD Ameritrade wouldn't close my account

[LonePirate]

2. The test was to verify your identity so that they don't send your check to a scammer.

Look at it from their perspective. Someone contacts them and asks close Account X and they claim to be the owner of that account. Do you know how many people have had access to my date of birth and SSN from various jobs I have had to car loans to rental and mortgage applications and agreements? That's true for a lot of people. Anybody with access to that info in the past could impersonate someone else and drain their account with little difficulty.

These tests, while flawed in some cases, are there for your and the institution's protection. There may be better ways to handle these situations; but the company was looking out for you despite what you thought was an unreasonable hassle.