A new law, which goes into effect today, allows state residents to freeze their credit, deterring would-be thieves from stealing information.

For a fee of $3 per credit bureau, or $9 overall, Georgians can freeze their credit records. If they opt to do so, businesses would be prevented from looking at their credit records without permission.

The service is free to people age 65 or older.

The law also requires the credit bureaus to lift the freeze within 15 minutes when a customer makes a purchase of a big ticket item, such as a car or television, using credit.

Consumer advocates say this kind of freeze is the most effective tool to stop new account fraud.

Governor Sonny Perdue signed the bill into law in May.

August 1, 2008