Bush Signs New Identity Theft Measure (free annual credit reports)

[papau]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3463574,00.html

Bush Signs New Identity Theft Measure

Thursday December 4, 2003 4:46 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Thursday signed legislation giving consumers new protections against identity theft, including free credit reports and a national fraud-alert system to minimize damage once a theft has occurred. <snip>

The legislation renewed the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which set a national credit reporting standard to make it easier for people to get credit cards, loans and mortgages. Set to expire at year's end without reauthorization by Congress, the current national credit reporting system helps the economy by making it easier for consumers to get credit quickly. <snip>

Under the legislation Bush signed, consumers will be able to e-mail, call or write the three major credit bureaus for a free copy of their credit report and their credit score each year to help them understand why their credit was denied or approved. It also will require businesses to black out Social Security numbers, credit card numbers and debit card numbers on receipts, and require the coding of medical information on credit reports. Consumers also will get one-call protection because it requires credit bureaus to share consumer information reporting identity theft.

[AlecBGreen]

1. that was nice of him

But why do i suspect this benefits credit agencies more than consumers? Am i really THAT jaded...?

[papau]

2. Guess I'm jaded also - I expect that the Credit Bureau's get some

legal protection that they need.

sigh....

:-)

[iam]

3. More unfunded mandates

and Gov't regulation of private businesses.

[Gin]

4. whats with the medical coding? I will take advantage of the free reports..

watch...each time we ask for the free report..the credit score will go down.

[unbrand]

5. Wait a sec...

Medical information in credit reports?

"...and require the coding of medical information on credit reports."

To my knowledge, medical info was not included in credit reports. I could be mistaken here, but this kinda sounds like the creation of an uber-profile that includes your medical history. If so, that's pretty frightening.

[classics]

7. Sounds like they snuck something in.

Anyone have the text of this legislation?

[NoKingGeorge]

9. AND they are Required to share it ! nt

[Cooley Hurd]

12. Since when is medical info on a credit report???

Maybe if you didn't pay a medical bill, but I've never heard of inclusion of medical info. Besides, wouldn't that be a HIPAA violation?

Something is stinky about this...

[tom_paine]

6. "...require the coding of medical information on credit reports?!?"

:wtf: :wtf:

Big Brother is watching YOU!

I had to realize that ANYTHING the Busheviks do that "appears to help" contains a Trojan Horse to destroy the very people they propose to help.

Perhaps now we will get turned down for credit due to a medical condition?

Perhaps it help the OHS thugs to profile their Civilian Threat Assessment Index.

No surprises here...Hitler dressed in doctor's clothing...Josef Mengele dressed up as George f*cking Washington to fool the rubes.

[classics]

8. They will call it your 'projected ability to repay'.

So if youve ever had cancer or you suffer from diabetes you can pretty much forget ever buying a house or car in America now.

[classics]

10. Here is the text of HR 2622.

http://www.mbaa.org/industry/docs/03/hr2622_0718.pdf

[Cooley Hurd]

11. I recommend using a credit watch service...

I subscribe to Experian's credit watch service. That way, if anyone attempts to open any credit line under your name or SS #, you're immediately notified (inculding accounts that you open yourself). I used Equifax's credit watch service last year, but it rarely notified me, even after I got a new credit card AND took out a loan for a car. According to several people I've spoken to, Experian is the best. You get a free report and you can check your credit score as frequently as you like without being penalized for excessive inquries.