For Immediate Release
OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
LAWRENCE G. WASDEN
Media Contact: Bob Cooper
(208) 334-4112
IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
GAVIN M. GEE, DIRECTOR
Media Contact: Mike Larsen
(208) 332-8060
Date: April 30, 2008
Idaho's New Credit Freeze Legislation
The Credit Report Protection Act
Financial Literacy Month Tip of the Week
Starting July 1, 2008 – Idaho will join about 40 other states that allow residents to place a freeze on their credit reports. “There is no magic formula that will protect Idaho residents from identity theft,” states Idaho Department of Finance Director Gavin Gee. “However, a credit freeze is an indispensable element of any state’s identity theft-fighting strategy.” The underlying goal of Idaho’s new credit freeze law is to give Idahoans a viable tool to protect themselves against financial and other fraud.
"Identity theft is a great concern for Idahoans," Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said. "Idaho's new credit freeze law will provide Idahoans with another valuable tool to combat this problem. I am pleased to provide our citizens with this very important information to assist them in avoiding becoming victims of identity theft."
With the goal of providing sound educational information to Idaho consumers the Idaho Attorney General’s Office and the Idaho Department of Finance offer the following information regarding Idaho’s NEW Credit Report Protection Act.
What Idahoans must know under the new law
- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are required to place a freeze on an individual’s report within three business days of receiving an individual’s written request.
- The written request to each of the three credit reporting agencies must include identifying information:
- Your first, middle, and last names and any suffix
- Your previous names, such as your maiden name
- Your current and any recent addresses, including your street address, apartment number, city, state and zip code
- Your Social Security number
- Your date of birth
- If you are a victim of identity theft – you must provide the consumer reporting agencies with a copy of your police report. Victims do not pay a fee to obtain a security freeze.
- Idahoans who are not identity theft victims must pay a fee of up to $6.00 to each credit reporting agency from which they request a freeze AND pay an additional $6.00 to each credit reporting agency to refreeze their credit reports.
- Requests along with a consumer’s identifying information (and police report if applicable) are to be mailed to the following addresses:
Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, Georgia 30348Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, Texas 75013TransUnion Security Freeze
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, California 92834
- Within five business days, the consumer reporting agencies must send the consumer a written confirmation of the security freeze and provide a “unique personal identification number or password” to be used to request removal of the freeze or a temporary lift of the freeze.
- A freeze may be lifted for a specific period of time or for a specific third party as instructed by the consumer. This will allow a consumer to obtain credit from a particular business or to unfreeze a report in order to compare rates from competing lenders.
Currently, each of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) offers consumers the ability to place a credit “freeze” on their credit reports, pursuant to their own programs. A credit freeze is free to identity theft victims who have filed a police report of identity theft. If you are not an identity theft victim, it will cost you $10 to place a freeze with each credit bureau, until the new law goes into effect on July 1, 2008.
For more information about Idaho’s new law, as well as current freeze options offered by each of the three main credit reporting agencies, visit the Idaho Attorney General’s website or the Department of Finance’s website.
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