Business Briefs: Credit Freeze in Affect, Nalley Moves to Duluth, AirTran Letting Go Pilots

GA credit freeze goes into affect today
The law that will allow Georgians to protect themselves against identity theft by freezing their credit records takes affect today.

The law allows residents to freeze their credit, preventing businesses and other organizations from reviewing credit records without permission.

The state mandate also places a cap on the fees associated with freezing credit records, the cost is $3 for most citizens, and free for those over 65.

Also, the law requires credit bureaus remove the freeze within 15 minutes of a customers request.

Georgians wishing to place a freeze on their credit must call the three credit bureaus: Atlanta-based Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Nalley moving to Duluth
One of the world’s largest automobile retailing companies is relocating to Duluth as a way to cut costs.

The Asbury Automotive Group, headquartered in New York and Stamford, Conn., is placing its metro Atlanta brand dealership, Nalley Automotive Group in Duluth.

According to the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the Fortune 500 company owns 13 Atlanta-area dealerships, and a total of 121 franchises at 89 locations in the U.S.

The company is moving about 70 employees.

Asbury released second quarter earnings of $10.9 million, on Wednesday. This is down 47 percent from the second quarter last year.

More bad news for AirTran
AirTran Airways is downsizing its work force in an effort to combat the high price of fuel. The economy airline announced Tuesday it would not furlough flight attendants, but would be letting go some of their pilots.

Tad Hutcheson, AirTran spokesman announced in July its plan to cut about 300 flight attendants and 180 pilots as a cost reducing measure. The airline was trying to reduce costs by $16 million. Employees were given the option to apply for a leave of absence or receive an early-exit package.

However, AirTran received enough requests for leaves many attendants will avoid furlough. The airline did receive very few voluntary exit applications.

Most of the job cuts will be in Atlanta because that is where many of them live. AirTran will make all of its job cuts by Sept. 6.