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closeWednesday, Sep. 03, 2008
New law allows consumers to unfreeze their credit
Ingrid Stegemoeller, Herald staff writer
It's like pressing the defrost button on your microwave.
That's how state Attorney General Rob McKenna describes a new law allowing consumers to unfreeze their credit in about 15 minutes when applying for a mortgage or taking out an insurance policy.
Freezes stop credit-reporting agencies from providing credit histories to potential creditors or insurance agencies and can help prevent identity thieves from opening new, unwanted accounts. It used to take up to three days for consumers to gain access to their frozen credit.
The legislature unanimously approved the law last year, according to a news release from McKenna's office.
Seniors 65 and older now get free credit freezes, as well.
For more information visit www.atg.wa.gov/freeze.aspx.
-- Ingrid Stegemoeller: 582-1537; istegemoeller@tricityherald.com; Business Beat blog at www.tricityherald.com
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| Pratik Joshi covers technology, employment, transportation, economic development and industrial growth. He joined the Herald in December 2006. He likes to write stories that educate. And there's hardly a subject he's not interested in. Drop him a line at pjoshi@tricityherald.com. | Ingrid Stegemoeller joined the Herald as a business reporter in September 2007. She covers the real estate and retail industries, as well as tourism. She says the best part of her job is meeting new people and hearing their stories. E-mail her at istegemoeller@tricityherald.com |
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