Credit freeze law should be improved

OLYMPIA – Two years after authoring the state’s credit freeze law, Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, believes that more work remains to be done. As a result of meetings with AARP, business and the Attorney General’s Office, Berkey has introduced Senate Bill 5826 to improve upon current law.

“Identity theft continues to be a problem in Washington,” Berkey said. “As we learn more about the issue, we have the opportunity to fine-tune existing law to better protect consumers.”

Berkey introduced the original measure in 2005 after she was contacted by a constituent, Eric Bell of Everett, who had been a victim of identity theft. As he worked to restore his credit, he realized that Washington did not have a credit freeze law. Bell testified about the need for the bill during committee hearings.

Current law allow victims of identity theft the option of prohibiting a credit reporting agency from releasing credit information without the consumer’s authorization.

SB 5826 amends current law in several ways:

• Credit freeze provisions would apply to all consumers, not just victims of identity theft;
• Consumers could request a short-term thaw in order to access their credit in an emergency;
• Responsibilities would be defined for both the consumer and the credit reporting agency when the request is made; and
• Fees limits would be established.

“I am grateful for the hard work done by everyone associated with this issue,” Berkey said. “Consumers will appreciate this improvement to our state’s credit freeze law.”

SB 5826 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee, chaired by Berkey, on Feb. 14.

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