SACRAMENTO –A bill by Assemblymember Dodd (D-Napa) to expedite the resolution process for victims of identity theft unanimously passed the legislature this week with bipartisan support. The Identity Theft Resolution Act will dramatically reduce the time it takes for victims of identity theft to clear their name, end harassing phone calls, and remove negative credit reporting. The bill has received broad based support from Attorney General Kamala Harris and consumer advocates.
“Millions of Californians have fallen victim to identity theft, myself included. It’s an issue that transcends partisan politics, and that’s why my colleagues in the legislature voiced their unanimous support for this bill,” said Assemblymember Dodd. “Victims of identity theft deserve a transparent and speedy resolution process.”
Identity theft occurs when perpetrators illegally use a person’s confidential information to make fraudulent purchases or apply for consumer loans in the victim’s name. The California Attorney General reports that 1.5 million Californians fall victim of identity theft every year. Nationwide, identity theft has increased more than five-fold during the past 15 years according to the Federal Trade Commission, who estimate it can take an average of 6 months and 200 hours of work to recover from the crime. Under Dodd’s legislation, the timeframe for recovery will be reduced to a matter of weeks.
“Identity theft is a crime that can haunt a victim for years. Too often, they must navigate a complex system to clean up their damaged credit and it can take years to recover from the loss,” said Attorney General Kamala D. Harris. “I am proud to support this sensible legislation that will protect victims of identity theft and fraud and help them clear their name more quickly.”
“Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in California and is becoming increasingly more difficult to prevent. Even after the crime has occurred, many victims spend months attempting to navigate a complex system just to clear their financial records,” said Solano County Sheriff Thomas Ferrara. “Identity theft victims deserve a simple and transparent resolution process and this legislation is a positive step in that direction.”
Dodd’s bill (AB-1732) dramatically reduces the time frame for debt collection companies to investigate identity theft disputes, and further requires that the results of that investigation be given to the consumer in a timely manner. Debt collection companies will now be required to provide faster updates to the credit reporting agencies to delete the negative credit reporting that can occur as a result. The bill now moves to the Governor’s desk, where it will await his signature to become law.
Assemblymember Bill Dodd represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Lake, Solano, and Colusa Counties. You can learn more about Assemblymember Dodd and the district at www.asm.ca.gov/dodd.
