Yingling Backs Bill to Eliminate Credit Freeze Fees, Protect Data Breach Victims

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – Victims of identity theft and fraud may no longer have to pay the fees associated with enacting a credit freeze thanks to a new measure being back by state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake.

“Consumers that have been victimized by data breaches shouldn’t be faced with fees in order to take the steps needed to protect their personal information,” Yingling said. “Given the recent data breaches with Equifax and past breaches with major retailers, residents need greater protections under the law and most certainly should never have to pay to freeze their credit.”

Yingling is a sponsor of House Bill 4095 which would prohibit consumer reporting agencies from imposing fees for placing a credit freeze, removing a freeze, or temporarily lifting a freeze. A credit freeze restricts access to a consumer’s credit report, making it more difficult for scam artists to open new fraudulent accounts in a victim’s name.

To further protect consumers, Yingling sponsored a new law to expand consumer protections to include more electronic personal information, like online login information, biometric data and health information as protected information. The law also updated how groups notify the public of a data breach.

“I have partnered with Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office to provide several anti-fraud seminars in the past and to craft pro-consumer bills, but we must continue to enact reforms which strengthen consumer protections and lessen burdensome costs passed on to consumers when they are the victim of fraud,” Yingling added. “I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to expand protections for Illinois consumers and businesses.”