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New York Enacts Security Freeze Law

A new state law in New York allows residents to freeze their credit information in order to keep identity thieves from accessing valuable credit information.

State consumers can write to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, the three major credit agencies, to request that their credit records be blocked from inquiries, thanks to the New York State Security Freeze, writes DM News.

The service is free the first time a freeze is requested, but subsequent requests, as well as requests to remove or temporarily lift a freeze, may be subject to $5 charges.

New York, which ranks eighth in the country for number of identity theft complaints per 100,000 population, is the 25th state to pass a credit freeze law.

Credit firms worry that the law makes it difficult for consumers to get credit when they need it. They suggest easier-to-use options such as placing a “fraud alert” on their credit file, according to a spokesman from Equifax.A security freeze means that consumers must plan ahead when applying for credit, because it limits access to credit files. The spokesman points out that consumers might not realize how often they need to access their credit report, such as when signing up for new cell phone service or applying for a business license.