Rep. Welch Pushes for Free Credit Freezes Following Equifax Breach!

September 25, 2017

State Representative Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-7th, Pushes for Free Credit Freezes Following Equifax Breach!

Welch Says the People Should Not be Forced to Pay for the Mistake of Equifax!

Welch Pushes for Free Credit Freezes Following Equifax Breach

WESTCHESTER, Ill. - To protect Illinois consumers impacted by the Equifax data breach, state Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, is sponsoring legislation that would prevent credit agencies from charging consumers to freeze their credit.

"People who have had their personal information compromised should not be forced to pay for the mistakes of one of the country's largest corporate credit reporting agencies," Welch said. "Equifax promised to keep their customer's credit information safe from cybercrimes. My legislation protects people from paying unfair costs from being pushed onto them."

Equifax recently announced it had suffered a massive data breach of sensitive consumer information from May to July of this year, impacting as many as 143 million Americans. In Illinois, the breach is believed to have compromised the personal and financial information of more than 5.4 million residents.

To reduce the potential for identity theft resulting from the data breach, Attorney General Madigan is encouraging residents to consider placing a freeze on their credit and to sign up for free credit reports. Welch is sponsoring House Bill 4095, which would prevent credit agencies like Equifax from charging consumers with a fee to freeze their credit.

"I encourage people to visit Equifax's website to see if their personal information has been hacked," Welch said. "Equifax is also offering people a one year cost-free credit monitoring service as a result of this breach. I am fighting to pass this legislation as soon as possible to help everyone affected by this cyber-attack."

To check to see if your personal information was compromised in this data breach, visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com .

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5 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Equifax Data Breach are listed below:

Do You Know a Senior Citizen who would like to spend A Day in the Country with Rep. Welch on Tuesday, September 26, 2017? If so, please call our office today at (708) 450-1000 as space is limited and filling up fast!

Join Rep. Chris Welch, Westlake Hospital, Agent Larry Williams and State Farm Insurance and Trainer Charles Robinson for their "Healthy Lives Matter" campaign. Join them for a monthly Free Fitness Class at The Mayfair Recreation Center in Westchester on Saturday, October 21, 2017. The event will run from 10am to 12pm. Feel free to share as this event is open to all seeking to live a healthy lifestyle! Free resources, snacks and raffles will be available to all who attend.

Join Rep. Chris Welch for his Annual Senior and Veterans Resource Fair on October 28, 2017. This year's event will return to the Proviso Math and Science Academy located at 8601 W. Roosevelt Road, Forest Park, and the event will run from 10am to 2pm. Feel free to share as this event with a Senior.

What Can State Representative Emanuel "Chris" Welch do for you? Rep. Welch's office can assist you in navigating a wide variety of state services and offers several events year round. Call Rep. Welch's Full-Time Constituent Service Office at 708-450-1000 to learn more.