Now you can freeze your credit files in any State…
The first opportunity to completely ‘freeze’ your credit file will be available on October 15, 2007, as reported by TransUnion. Restricting lenders from accessing a consumer’s credit and preventing the opening of new accounts, is an effective way to prevent credit fraud. TransUnion is the first credit reporting company committed to providing U.S. consumers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia with the ability to freeze their credit files.
“TransUnion understands that many consumers are concerned about identity theft and want access to tools that provide them with a personal level of comfort,” said Mark Marinko, president of Consumer Services at TransUnion. “While fraud alerts continue to be an effective and practical solution for most consumers, we’re pleased to be in a position to empower all consumers with the extra measure of security and peace of mind that a file freeze can deliver…” “As a result of our actions, all U.S. consumers will have the power to choose the form of ID theft or fraud protection they feel is best for their individual circumstances,” added Marinko. “While this wasn’t something currently required of us by law, we had the ability to make it happen now and firmly believe it was the right thing to do for consumers.”
While consumer access to placing a file freeze continues to be driven at the state level, some state-enacted credit freeze laws are not yet effective and other states have not enacted such laws. TransUnion will continue to meet or exceed the requirements of freeze laws already enacted in any state. In states where there are no laws in place or where laws have been enacted but are not yet effective, TransUnion will provide the file freeze for free to all identity theft victims requests. Non-victim requests will cost $10.
* Learn more about credit freezes at TransUnion’s website >>>