Not to defend DTV customer service, because they do blow. Ever increasingly with the recent merger. But I have done something like this dozens of times with DTV. Social engineering is an art!!

I am at my vacation home and don't have my info, my wife set up the account so its under her SS#, and I have used 4434 as the last 4 the SS# on account countless times. Just say it with confidence. I have no idea where this number came from, but it works a lot. With any of the providers.