If you don't like the idea of buying presents for criminals, Pennsylvania lawmakers unwrapped a welcome gift for you this holiday season: a new weapon in the war against identity theft.

The state's Credit Reporting Agency Law, which passed unanimously in November and took effect Jan. 1, allows Pennsylvania consumers to place a security freeze on their credit reports.

		FREEZING YOUR FILES A law allowing Pennsylvanians to freeze their credit reports took effect Jan. 1. Here are some highlights: What it does: When a freeze is in place, credit bureaus cannot release information from your credit report to lenders or other businesses without your permission, effectively blocking identity thieves from opening a credit card, cell phone account or other credit accounts in your name. What it costs: Credit bureaus can charge up to $10 to initiate a freeze and $10 to temporarily lift (thaw) a freeze. There is no charge for permanently removing a freeze. (Freezes and thaws are free for consumers 65 and older and identity theft victims who submit a police report.) Where to call: Credit bureaus are required to accept requests by certified mail or secure Internet connections. For instructions, contact Equifax, 1-800-685-1111 (select option 8); Experian 1-800-290-5195; and TransUnion, 1-888-909-8872. The drawback: If you freeze your files, you probably won't be able to get instant credit at a department store, car dealer, etc., unless you plan ahead. The law allows you to temporarily thaw your credit report, such as on a particular day or for a specific business, but the credit bureaus have up to three days to comply with a request.

When a freeze is in place, credit bureaus can't release your credit files without your permission, although there are exceptions allowing some groups to continue to gain access, such as government entities and private collection agencies.

A freeze won't thwart all types of ID theft. But because it blocks access to credit reports that lenders use to grant credit, it should prevent a thief from opening new accounts in your name.

Consumer groups lobbied hard for the security freeze law, which about half the states already have on their books.

"We are extremely pleased with the bill," said Jim Swoyer, Harrisburg-based advocate for the Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group, known as PennPirg.

He urged anyone who can afford the price tag to take advantage of the new law.

"It really is an effective way to prevent costly ID theft," Mr. Swoyer said.

The law allows credit bureaus to charge up to $10 to initiate a freeze and another $10 to temporarily lift it, although both services are free for people 65 and older or for victims of ID theft. There is no charge for anyone who wants to permanently remove the freeze.

Consumers wanting to apply for a credit card, loan or other credit can temporarily lift, or "thaw" the freeze for a particular creditor or specific period of time using a personal ID or password. Credit bureaus have up to three business days to comply.

A freeze automatically expires in seven years, unless a consumer asks that it be removed earlier.

Instructions for requesting a security freeze aren't a snap to find on the Web sites of any of the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. That's not surprising given that the agencies make money selling credit reports, so freezing your files potentially hurts their business.

You can get instructions over the telephone, although the phone numbers aren't publicized very well, either (see box for numbers).

As credit bureaus like to point out, a potential drawback to slapping a freeze on your credit report is that it prevents you from getting instant credit, unless you find out which credit reporting agency the lender uses and ask for a temporary thaw ahead of time.

"What we've heard from other states is that the credit agencies are not taking the full three days to grant a thaw," Mr. Swoyer said, noting that it is in their interest to act quickly.