We support reforms to the financial marketplace to curb bad practices by banks and lenders.
Privacy
8.3 million Americans fall victim to identity theft each year. We’re pushing for reforms that give you the tools you need when your sensitive financial information is compromised or stolen.
Publications
- Missouri
Missouri is one of the few states that has not passed a law requiring the availability of the security freeze.
Eligibility: All Consumers
Fees: No fee for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place, temporarily lift, or remove the freeze altogether.Consumers may use the voluntary program.
Security Freeze Instructions for Equifax
Security Freeze Instructions for Experian
Security Freeze Instructions for TransUnion - Mississippi
Eligibility: Identity theft victims with a police report, investigative report or complaint filed with a law enforcement agency.
Fees: $10 to place a freeze for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place, temporarily lift, or remove the freeze altogether.
Effective date of law: July 1, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Mississippi’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Mississippi’s security freeze lawNon-ID theft victims may use the voluntary program.
Security Freeze Instructions for Equifax
Security Freeze Instructions for Experian
Security Freeze Instructions for TransUnion - Minnesota
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims who provide police report. All others pay $5 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Effective date of law: August 1, 2006
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Minnesota’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Minnesota’s security freeze law - Michigan
Michigan is one of the few states that has not passed a law requiring the availability of the securitry freeze. Michigan consumers may use the voluntary program.
Eligibility: All Consumers
Fees: No fee for identity theft victims. All others pay $10 to place, temporarily lift, or remove the freeze altogether.
Security Freeze Instructions for Equifax
Security Freeze Instructions for Experian
Security Freeze Instructions for TransUnion - Massachusetts
Eligibility: All consumers.
Fees: No fee for identity theft victims or victim’s spouse. $5 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether
Effective date of law: February 3, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Massachusetts’ security freeze law
Instructions for using Massachusetts’ security freeze law - Maryland
Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims who provide report of alleged identity fraud or with an identity theft passport. All others pay $5 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether.
Effective date of law: January 1, 2008
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Maryland’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Maryland’s security freeze law - Maine
Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims who provide a police report. All others pay up to $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether. $10 to have PIN reissued, and $12 to lift the freeze temporarily for a specific creditor.
Effective date of law: February 1, 2006
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Maine’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Maine’s security freeze law - Louisiana
Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims or persons aged 62 years and older. All others pay $10 to place the freeze, or $8 to lift it temporarily. No fee to remove the freeze altogether.
Effective date of law: July 1, 2005
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Louisiana’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Louisiana’s security freeze law - Kentucky
Eligibility: All consumers
Fees: No fees for identity theft victims who provide a police report. All others pay $10 to place the freeze, lift it temporarily, or remove it altogether. $10 to have PIN reissued.
Effective date of law: July 11, 2006
Note: Security freeze automatically expires after 7 years from date of placement.
Copy of Kentucky’s security freeze law
Instructions for using Kentucky’s security freeze law - Kansas
Eligibility: Identity theft victims only. 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.
Effective date of law: January 1, 2007
Permanent freeze remains until removal requested by consumer.
Copy of Kansas’ security freeze law
Instructions for using Kansas’ security freeze lawNon-ID theft victims may use the voluntary program.
Security Freeze Instructions for Equifax
Security Freeze Instructions for Experian
Security Freeze Instructions for TransUnion
Blog Posts
- Appeals court urged to uphold California’s financial privacy law
Consumer groups filed an amicus brief in support of the Defendants in the ABA v. Lockyer case. This case, brought by the national bank trade association groups, threatens pivotal parts of California’s landmark financial privacy law.
- The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act: Consumers win some, lose some
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act: Consumers Win Some, Lose Some from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
- How private is my credit report?
How Private Is My Credit Report? Fact sheet from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
- Court Upholds California’s Landmark Financial Privacy Law
Read the decision. Learn about the new financial privacy rights available to Californians here.
- FAQs on Medicare’s use of Social Security Numbers
Why is it a risk to have your social security number on your Medicare card? Find out!
- FAQs on Medicare’s use of Social Security Numbers
Why is it a risk to have your social security number on your Medicare card? Find out!
- Banks Sue to Block Landmark California Financial Privacy Law
Less than one year after some of the nation’s largest financial institutions signed off on a legislative package that gave California the strongest financial privacy law in the country, their trade associations went to court to challenge a key part of the new statute.
- President Bush Signs Measure Today Providing ID Theft, Credit Report Protections; Yet Fails on Financial Privacy
President George Bush today is expected to sign a revised version of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that offers consumers new protections to ensure credit report accuracy and safeguards against identity theft, but fails to give consumers meaningful tools to protect their financial privacy.
- Congress Provides New ID Theft Protections But Fails on Financial Privacy
Consumers nationwide will enjoy new identity theft safeguards but still lack critical financial privacy protection.
- Senate Bill Offers Better ID Theft and Credit Report Protection Than House Counterpart
Consumers Union joined other national consumer groups in urging members of Congress to adopt the Senate’s version of a bill amending the Fair Credit Report Act, which provides better identity theft, report accuracy, and privacy protections than a weaker House bill.
Worried about retirement?
The stock market has been unusually volatile, plunging hundreds of points, creeping back, only to plunge again. It is hard to stay disciplined about saving when every dime you’ve invested can evaporate in a day.
What is your biggest concern about your own retirement? We want to hear from you.
Where to complain
Online, by mail, phone or fax... Agencies need to hear from you!