NEWS . . . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
From: Martin Hawley, the Office of State Representative Calvin Hill

An Important Consumer Update from Calvin Hill:

This is a quick overview of the contact and procedures to place a “freeze” on your credit information to prevent identity theft. Please pass this along to anyone you know that might desire to protect their credit information.

As Per Georgia HB 130, author: Representative Calvin Hill

Credit Bureau Contact

For Credit Freeze Implementation

Effective August 1, 2008

Equifax Experian TransUnion
P.O. Box 740241 P.O. Box 2002 P.O. Box 1000
Atlanta, GA 30374 Allen, TX 75013 Chester, PA 19022
1-800-685-1111 1 888 397 3742 1-800-888-4213

www.equifax.com
www.experiandirect.com
www.truecredit.com

A consumer may place a security freeze on their credit report by making a request in writing by certified mail to a consumer credit reporting agency. No later than August 1, 2008, a consumer credit reporting agency shall make available to consumers an Internet based method of requesting a security freeze and a toll-free telephone number for consumers to use to place a security freeze, temporarily lift a security freeze, or completely remove a security freeze. A security freeze shall prohibit the consumer credit reporting agency from releasing the consumer’s credit report or credit score without the prior express authorization of the consumer.

They can each charge a fee for freezing your credit – up to a maximum of $3.00. If you are age 65 or older, the freeze is no charge.

If you are younger, think of the fee as very cheap insurance on your credit information. It will no longer be given out to anybody else who might pretend to be you and tries to open credit in your name. They must have your PIN number to do that, so keep your PIN very safe!

Once a freeze is requested, the CRA will then mail to you your PIN number so that you can use it to “unfreeze” you credit whenever you want. This process of mailing you your PIN is another level of security, but might take a week or so. After that, a freeze or unfreeze should be almost instant – no more than 15 minutes in any case.

Each agency may have slightly different procedures, but they all must comply with Georgia Law by August 1, 2008.

Calvin Hill

State Representative, District 21

Chairman, Special Rules Committee

Direct cell number - 770-712-2879

# # #

WWW.CALVINHILL.ORG