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For Immediate
Release
6/30/06
CONTACT:
PA
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
Corman's Identity Theft Bill Passes Senate
HARRISBURG -- Legislation
written by Sen. Jake Corman (R-34) that puts consumers in greater control of
their credit reports unanimously passed the state senate today.
Corman's Senate Bill 180, known as the Credit Reporting Agency Law,
allows consumers to place and remove security freezes on their consumer
report.
Corman
said the legislation creating security freezes would allow consumers to
prevent anyone from looking at his or her own credit reporting file for
the purposes of granting credit unless they authorize a particular
business to do so.
"When
an imposter seeks credit in a consumer's name, the creditor checks the
credit reporting file. If the file is frozen, the creditor will deny
the thief's credit application," said Corman
Consumers legitimately applying for credit can lift the freeze so
particular creditors can see their files. When the consumer is not
seeking credit, the security freeze effectively prevents anyone else
from getting credit in the consumer's name.
"This
is a common-sense tool consumers can use to prevent identify theft,"
Corman said. "Residents of other states have this kind of protection
available to them and Pennsylvania's citizens should be afforded this
same consumer protection."
Senate
Bill 180 is supported by consumer groups and PennPIRG calls it "the
single most important tool in preventing identity theft: the ability to
proactively freeze access to their credit reports."
"A
security freeze is an efficient and sensible way to protect
Pennsylvanians before they become victims," said Jim Swoyer, a Public
Interest Advocate with the Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group (PennPIRG).
"Simply stated, it is the single most effective tool consumers can use
to prevent identity theft. We applaud Senator Corman for his leadership
on identity theft. It will be a huge victory for consumers statewide if
his legislation becomes law."
Senate
Bill 180 now goes to the House of Representative for consideration.
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