Defend Your Dollars http://www.defendyourdollars.org/ Defend Your Dollars is the website of the Consumers Union Financial Services Campaign, where we support reforms to the financial marketplace to curb bad practices by banks and lenders. en Copyright 2012 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:05:52 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Consumers Union Activist passes strong ID Freeze law Congratulations to Jaimee Knapp and Nebraska for passing the Security Freeze Enhancement bill into law!
Without Jaimee Napp, Nebraskans probably wouldn’t have the identity theft protections they have today. She came to Consumers Union only a few years ago as an identity theft victim motivated to make change. Since then, she has set up Identity Theft Action Council of Nebraska and has brought awareness to legislators, media and the public.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/consumers_union_activist_passe.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/consumers_union_activist_passe.html Blog Post Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:05:52 -0800 Security Freeze Prevent the most costly and difficult to detect form of identity theft ― false new accounts opened in your name. Find out if your state offers stronger protection from identity theft.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/consumers_unions_guide_to_secu.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/consumers_unions_guide_to_secu.html Intro Text Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:25:38 -0800 Things to Consider When Deciding Whether to Place a Security Freeze You’ve been reading and hearing about the “security freeze” to stop new account identity theft. Should you get a security freeze? Here is some information from Consumers Union about this personal choice.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/things_to_consider_when_decidi.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/things_to_consider_when_decidi.html Tips Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:30:14 -0800 Are you experiencing problems with your security freeze? http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/are_you_experiencing_problems.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/are_you_experiencing_problems.html Tips Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:28:00 -0800 Frequently asked questions about security freeze Credit card companies, merchants, other businesses, and government entities do not always adequately safeguard consumers' private financial information.

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/frequently_asked_questions_abo.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/frequently_asked_questions_abo.html Tips Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:25:23 -0800 Wyoming Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Note: Requires electronic and telephone methods to lift, imposes the 15 minute lift time frame starting September 1, 2008.
Effective date of law: July 1, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Wyoming's security freeze law
Instructions for using Wyoming's security freeze law

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/wyoming_security_freeze_rights.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/wyoming_security_freeze_rights.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:28:01 -0800 Wisconsin Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: No fee for an "individual who submits evidence satisfactory to the CRAs that the individual made a report to a law enforcement agency." All others pay $10 to place, temporarily lift, or remove the freeze altogether.
Effective date of law: January 1, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Wisconsin's security freeze law
Instructions for using Wisconsin's security freeze law

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/wisconsin_security_freeze_righ.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/wisconsin_security_freeze_righ.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:26:54 -0800 West Virginia Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $5 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Effective date of the law: July 2, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of West Virginia's security freeze law
Instructions for using West Virginia's security freeze law

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/west_virginia_security_freeze.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/west_virginia_security_freeze.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:25:57 -0800 Washington Eligibility: Currently applies to identity theft victims, including persons who receive a notice of a security breach of computerized personal information. Beginning September 1, 2008, all consumers will be eligible for the freeze.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims or seniors aged 65 years and older. Once all other consumers become eligible in September 2008, they will pay $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Effective date of law: July 24, 2005 for identity theft victims; September 1, 2008 for all consumers
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Washington's security freeze law
Instructions for using Washington's security freeze law from WA's Attorney General

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/washington_security_freeze_rig.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/washington_security_freeze_rig.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:24:35 -0800 Virginia Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims with police reports. All others pay a $10 fee to place the freeze.
Effective date of law: July 1, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Virginia's security freeze law
Instructions for using Virginia's security freeze law

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/virginia.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/virginia.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:23:33 -0800 Vermont Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place the freeze, $5 to lift it temporarily or remove it altogether.
Effective date of law: July 1, 2006
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Vermont's security freeze law
Instructions for using Vermont's security freeze law from VT's Attorney General

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/vermont_security_freeze_rights.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/vermont_security_freeze_rights.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:22:36 -0800 Utah Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: Utah's law allows credit bureaus to charge "reasonable fees," without specifying the amount that can be charged.
Note: Consumers will be able to temporarily lift or "thaw" the freeze within 15 minutes of electronic request
Effective date of law: September 1, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Utah's security freeze law
Instructions for using Utah's security freeze law

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/utah_security_freeze_rights_es.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/utah_security_freeze_rights_es.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:20:52 -0800 Texas Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All other consumers pay $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or to remove it altogether. $12 to lift the freeze temporarily for a specific creditor.
Effective date of law: September 1, 2003 for identity theft victims; September 1, 2007 for all consumers
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Texas’ security freeze law
Instructions for using Texas’ security freeze law

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/texas_security_freeze_rights_e.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/texas_security_freeze_rights_e.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:20:15 -0800 Tennessee Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims. All others pay $7.50 to place the freeze, no fee to lift it temporarily, and $5 to remove it altogether.
Effective date of the law: January 1, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Tennessee’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Tennessee’s security freeze law
Copy of Tennessee’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Tennessee’s security freeze law

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/tennessee_security_freeze_righ.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/tennessee_security_freeze_righ.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:19:31 -0800 South Dakota Eligibility: Identity theft victims with a valid police report. As of November 1, 2007, the security freeze will be offered by all three major credit bureaus voluntarily to all consumers.
Fees: No fees permitted by law for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place, temporarily lift, or remove the freeze altogether.
Note: Only freezes credit report and automatically expires after 7 years from date of placement
Effective date of law: July 1, 2006
Copy of South Dakota’s security freeze law
Instructions for using South Dakota’s security freeze law

]]> http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/south_dakota_security_freeze_r.html http://www.defendyourdollars.org/2009/04/south_dakota_security_freeze_r.html Intro Text Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:18:47 -0800