The Federal Trade Commission will be putting a new credit file protection layer in place.

According to the Ulster County District Attorney's Division of Consumer Affairs, courtesy of the new Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act.

Consumers can now contact any of the three major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) and request a freeze be placed on their credit files for free. The agencies will have until the next day to put that freeze in place.

The biggest upside to this act is that it makes it harder for identity thieves to open up new credit accounts under a consumer's name.

Author of the bill, Senator Mike Crapo said:

It provides consumers unlimited free credit freezes and unfreezes per year. It allows parents to turn on and off credit reporting for children under 18, and provides important protections for veterans and seniors.

Consumer Affiars can be reached at (845) 340-3260.

 

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