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Legislation proposed in Del. to curb identity theft(Delaware State News (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) May 10--DOVER -- Delawareas wanting protection from identity thieves could "freeze" their credit under legislation a Downstate senator proposed Tuesday. Sen. Robert L. Venables, D-Laurel, unveiled Tuesday a rewritten version of a bill he filed last year, which has support from consumer and banking groups. "We are looking to stop identity theft and its financial losses at the very inception," said George Fitzgerald, a volunteer lobbyist for the Delaware Credit Union League. Senate Bill 109 would let consumers freeze their credit by sending a certified letter to the three major credit rating bureaus and paying a $20 fee to each agency. Victims of identity theft could freeze their credit for free. The freeze would prevent anyone from obtaining credit in the person's name. For example, if a thief stole the identity of someone with frozen credit, the person could not get a credit card or a loan in the person's name. Freezes can be lifted for free if the person needs to get an automobile loan or other forms of credit. "I think this bill will pass easily because it protects the public and it is good for legislators to protect their constituents," Sen. Venables said. "I don't know how many people will use it. Whether it is 1 in 10, 1 in 20 or 1 in 100, I would encourage everyone to use it because it will be $20 well spent." Mr. Fitzgerald said SB 109 is a "vaccination" against the problems identity theft can bring. While victims can often restore their credit history, they face mounds of paperwork and many phone calls to straighten out the situation. "It's a growth industry," Mr. Fitzgerald said of identity theft. "Identity thieves are efficient and don't use a gun, so they usually don't go to jail for a long time." Other provisions in the bill include a right for victims to file a police report, which will help them repair their credit, and language allowing victims to obtain a "declaration of innocence" from state courts. "Identity theft affects over 9 million Americans," said Jim Kelly, chief operating officer for the ING bank. "The freeze is an effective tool to combat identity theft. We believe Americans have a fundamental right to control their credit information." |