Call Kurtis Investigates: Lawmaker Wants to Give Parents New Option to Protect Kids from ID Theft
STOCKTON (CBS13) — When we introduced you to Corrie Vaughn of Stockton in 2013, the sixth-grader in foster care had just learned his identity was stolen and someone took out credit in his name. A collections agency was after him for $1,100.
Eighteen states have now passed laws forcing the three credit bureaus to give parents the option of freezing their children's credit, so no one can steal their child's identity and open up credit. California is not one of them. State Assemblyman Mike Gatto wants to change that.
"We've seen your stories of the guy in the foster system, and your heart goes out to a guy like that. He's already had a tough life," said the Democrat representing Burbank. "We don't want anyone to be in the same situation, where they wake up at age 18; they want to get a credit card and they find out somebody has been using their credit for years."
He just introduced AB1580 that would force the three credit bureaus to allow parents to freeze their children's credit until they are 18-years-old.
"It is time for California to step up and join the many states that already passed similar legislation," said Gatto.
Equifax voluntarily started allowing parents in all fifty states to freeze their child's credit. If Assemblyman Gatto's bill passes, it would require all three credit bureaus to give parents that option. However, the bill does allow each of the bureaus to charge up to $10 each for the service.
