Why won't Thomasville white-out my social security number on a paper application?

I recently purchased furniture at Thomasville and opted for the free financing option. I completed a paper application and was approved instantly. I then asked that my social security number be removed from the application. I was told this was not possible and there has never been a problem. I followed up with the manager who again assured me that only certain employees have a key to the cabinet and there has never been a problem. That they must keep my paper application on file for 5 years in case the credit card company has a problem. I explained the credit card company already has my information, if there is a problem, they can contact me. Manager kept insisting there has never been a problem. In this era of identify theft, I am astonished that not only can I not get my number removed from a paper application, I have assurances from the manager, that there has never been a problem and only certain employees have "a key". Basically, the manager assured me that until there is a problem, nothing will change. So just so you know anyone with access to this file cabinet has access to many customer's social security numbers. If anyone has applied for credit through a Thomasville store, your social security number is there for the taking.