Other consumers will pay $10 for each of those services.Ĭonsumers will have to request this freeze by regular mail. Identity theft victims will be able to add, temporarily lift or permanently remove a freeze at no cost. 15, 2007, any consumer will be able to request a credit freeze from TransUnion. It does not block access to your credit history, however. An alert places a statement on your credit reports with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion and instructs businesses to contact you to verify your identity prior to granting new credit. Qualifying individuals may be charged a fee to temporarily lift or remove a freeze consumers should check with the credit bureaus since Washington’s current law does not address these fees.Īlso, any consumer can place a free fraud alert on their credit files. Credit bureaus must place the freeze no later than five business days after receiving your written request. A freeze can prevent identity theft since most businesses will not open credit accounts without checking a consumer's credit history first. A freeze means that your credit history cannot be shared with potential creditors. Right now, RCW 19.182.170 allows identity theft victims and people whose information was potentially compromised in a data breach to request a free security freeze from Equifax, Experian and/or TransUnion.Here’s a breakdown of Washington’s credit freeze law and TransUnion’s new service: McKenna said his office created a Web page at to help educate consumers about credit freeze and fraud alert options available in Washington. Equifax announced it plans to follow suit and will set up procedures in October. TransUnion announced last week that it would allow consumers nationwide the ability to freeze access to their credit reports starting Oct. Identity theft and data breach victims can request a security freeze now.” “Under legislation I proposed, consumers will be able to freeze their credit histories with the three major bureaus, including Experian, starting next year. “For a freeze to be effective, however, consumers need to also be able to freeze access to all major credit reporting agencies,” McKenna added. “A security freeze is the strongest tool available to prevent identity thieves from opening new credit lines in a victim's name, wrecking their finances." “I’m pleased that TransUnion and Equifax have decided to offer a credit report security freeze to all consumers,” McKenna said. McKenna said it’s important for consumers to understand how TransUnion’s credit freeze rules differ from Washington laws and to not confuse the credit freeze option – which is free for victims and $10 for everyone else – and a costlier product offered by TransUnion that includes credit monitoring. SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna applauded decisions by TransUnion and Equifax to offer consumers the ability to freeze access to their credit reports.
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