B.C. consumers can now place security alerts and credit freezes by phone with credit reporting agencies

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted

A new regulation sets out how individuals can contact credit reporting agencies to add, update, or remove security alerts on their credit reports, and how to request a credit freeze that blocks disclosure of their credit file. Telephone is prescribed as an accepted method for all of these requests, in addition to whatever other methods may exist. Individuals must provide their phone number when making a security alert request. Credit reporting agencies that receive a temporary suspension request for a credit freeze must honour the specific time period the individual specifies. Businesses that operate as credit reporting agencies in British Columbia will need to ensure their phone-based intake processes are ready to handle these requests in compliance with the new rules.

Who this affects
credit reporting agencies operating in British Columbia · consumers seeking to protect their credit files · businesses that access consumer credit reports · compliance and operations teams at credit bureaus