House moves toward passing identity theft, nation credit reporting legislation

Wednesday, September 10th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Legislation awaiting House approval would give people new weapons against identity theft, offering a free credit report annually and an easier way to block thieves from opening fraudulent accounts.

Those steps were among the changes that lawmakers were debating Wednesday to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which contains provisions that must be renewed by year's end.

Identity theft cost consumers and businesses $53 billion last year, the Federal Trade Commission said last week, with almost 10 million Americans falling victim to thieves using their name and other personal information, such as a Social Security number or bank and credit card numbers, to establish credit or buy products.

"This bill will give consumers the weapons they need to fight identity thieves and the tools to repair their credit history after an attack," said House Financial Services Chairman Michael Oxley, R-Ohio.

Under the legislation, all consumers would have the right to a free copy of their credit report annually upon request. Only six states -- Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont -- now require the nation's three major credit bureaus -- Equifax Inc., Experian Information Solutions Inc. and Trans Union -- to give consumers free credit reports every year.

The bill also gives consumers "one-call-for-all" protection by requiring credit bureaus to share consumer calls on identity theft, including requested fraud alert blocking.

"This legislation not only empowers consumers with protections, it also demands creditors and credit bureaus do their part to combat fraud," said Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore.

With both Democratic and Republican support -- it passed the House Financial Services Committee on a 61-3 vote -- the legislation is expected to pass the House overwhelmingly.

The White House also supports the legislation. "The bill removes the sunsets from the Fair Credit Reporting Act and includes many of the administration's proposed consumer protections, including new tools to help fight identity theft," White House officials said in a statement.

The Senate has yet to consider similar legislation, but the Senate Banking Committee is expected to start moving on similar legislation soon.

Congress must address the Fair Credit Reporting Act this year because the 1996 provisions that instituted uniform reporting requirements are due to expire at the end of 2003.

"The national uniform credit reporting system has lowered costs and increased choice and convenience for American consumers," said Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala. "Much like the national interstate highway system allows for quick and easy travel across state lines, a national uniform credit reporting system allows for consumers to receive credit in a cost-effective and timely fashion."

However, several consumer groups have come out against the legislation, which would pre-empt tougher state legislation on the sharing of personal data. For example, California just passed a law allowing California consumers to block banks, insurance companies and other institutions from sharing their personal information.

"We believe that all Americans deserve the same protections," said a coalition of consumer and privacy groups including Consumers Union, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Consumer Action and the NAACP in a letter sent Tuesday to Congress. "At the very least, stronger state financial privacy giving citizens the right to choose whether their banks share or sell confidential financial information should not be pre-empted."

"I'm sorry I have to vote against the bill but I have to protect California," said Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.