NASHVILLE — A new Tennessee law can help parents “freeze out” out ID thieves and scammers aiming to pilfer the private information of teens or the information of a person to whom a guardian or conservator has been appointed.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-2111 gives parents or legal guardians the ability to enact a security freeze on persons under 16 years of age or an incapacitated person under the care of a guardian or conservator.
How it works
When the freeze is in place, consumer reporting agencies (e.g. TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian) cannot release that person’s credit report or any other information regarding that person unless the security freeze is removed.
This prevents others from requesting information, but it may also prevent consumers from allowing others to access that information quickly should that become necessary in the future.
Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Deputy Commissioner Bill Giannini commented on this new tool available to state residents. “As threats to individuals’ personal information seemingly grow more prevalent every day, this law gives parents and guardians an important tool to help protect valuable information from falling into the hands of people who should not have it. I advise Tennesseans to take precautions to protect their personal information and the information of their loved ones.”
The law applies to credit reporting agencies and not consumer report monitoring services.
Common questions
- How do I request a security freeze?
Contact the consumer reporting agency to request that the freeze be placed. As the protected consumer’s representative, you must submit sufficient proof of both your identification and the identification of the protected consumer.
You must also provide sufficient proof of authority to act on behalf of the protected consumer and pay the fee, if any, charged by the agency.
The maximum fee for placing or lifting a freeze for a Protected Consumer is $10 for each action.
- What is sufficient proof of identification?
It is information or documentation that identifies a protected consumer or the protected consumer’s representative. This includes a A Social Security number or a copy of a Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration; a certified or official copy of a certificate of birth issued by the entity authorized to issue the certificate of birth; a copy of a valid driver’s license or any other government-issued identification; or acopy of a bill, including a bill for telephone, sewer, septic tank, water, electric, oil, or natural gas services, that shows a name and home address.
- What is sufficient proof of authority?
Documentation that shows a representative has authority to act on behalf of a protected consumer includes an order issued by a court of law, a lawfully executed and valid power of attorney, and a written, notarized statement signed by a representative that expressly describes the authority of the representative to act on behalf of a protected consumer.
- Can I place a freeze online?
You can. The web pages for each of the three major Consumer Reporting Agencies are found below.
· Equifax: freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp
· Experian: experian.com/freeze/center.html
· TransUnion: transunion.com/freeze
- Can I see a complete copy of the bill that created this law?
Yes. Citizens should thoroughly review the law for complete information regarding the provisions of the act. It is available online at tn.gov/sos/acts/109/pub/pc0282.pdf, and it is codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-2111 (see online at lexisnexis.com/hottopics/ tncode/).
About the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance: TDCI is charged with protecting the interests of consumers while providing fair, efficient oversight and a level field of competition for a broad array of industries and professionals doing business in Tennessee. Our divisions include the Athletic Commission, Consumer Affairs, Tennessee Corrections Institute, Emergency Communications Board, Fire Prevention, Insurance, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Peace Officers Standards and Training, Regulatory Boards, Securities, and TennCare Oversight.
