Consumer groups urge Baker to sign credit protection bill
Consumer advocates are calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to sign legislation would create new protections against identity theft.
A bill passed by the Legislature on New Year's Eve during the final hours of the last session would let consumers freeze or thaw their credit files for free, and gained momentum after a security breach at Equifax, one of the nation's largest credit bureaus.
According to MassPIRG and AARP Massachusetts, the bill's passage could protect consumers against people who might attempt to open new credit accounts in their names, and would add to a similar federal law approved in September.
"With more access to credit due to their longer careers and higher incomes, older adults are the most common targets of identity theft nationwide," Mike Festa, AARP Massachusetts state director, said in a statement Friday. "Individuals age 50-59 filed more than 7,200 complaints of identity theft in Massachusetts alone in 2017, according to the Federal Trade Commission. We now urge Governor Baker to sign this bill into law as quickly as possible."
The bill (H 4806) also requires credit bureaus and other companies to give consumers free credit monitoring services after a data breach. If a breach involving a Social Security number occurs at a consumer reporting agency – such as Equifax – the bill requires credit reporting agencies to provide at least 3.5 years of free monitoring to affected consumers. For other entities they must offer consumers at least 1.5 years of free monitoring.
According to Baker's office, the governor has until Jan. 10 to act on the bill.
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