Help Massachusetts Residents Prevent Identity Theft
One of the most common types of identity theft is the “new
account” variety, where a criminal uses stolen information to open new
credit cards and loan accounts in your name. A credit report security freeze allows an
individual to voluntarily choose to restrict access to her/his credit
report. A credit report security freeze can make it more difficult for
criminals to steal an identity by opening new accounts in someone’s name.
It does not affect the person’s credit score, and can be removed at any
time.
The three major credit reporting agencies — Experian,
Equifax, and TransUnion — each charge
a $5 fee every time a Massachusetts resident requests that a credit report
security freeze be placed on her/his credit file. Residents must also pay an
additional $5 fee to each agency every time they request removal of a freeze on
their credit file.
Massachusetts residents who have been victims of identity theft
may place a credit report security freeze on their file at each agency without
paying a fee as long as they provide a copy of a police report detailing the ID
theft. To check their credit file, however, victims must pay an $8 fee per
agency to obtain a copy of their credit report.
H.134/S.130 would remove all fees when placing, suspending and/or removing a credit report security
freeze — regardless of the number of times a freeze is placed
or removed — and would also remove the $8 credit report fee for those
who are victims of identity theft.
Write your representatives and ask them to support
H.134/S.130 – An Act Removing Fees for Securiy Freezes and Disclosures of
Consumer Credit Reports
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