Title 16—Commercial Practices--Volume 1
PART 642—PRESCREEN OPT-OUT NOTICE
§ 642.1   Purpose and scope.
(a) Purpose. This part implements section 213(a) of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, which requires the Federal Trade Commission to establish the format, type size, and manner of the notices to consumers, required by section 615(d) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), regarding the right to prohibit (“opt out” of) the use of information in a consumer report to send them solicitations of credit or insurance.
(b) Scope. This part applies to any motor vehicle dealer as defined in § 642.2 of this part that uses a consumer report on any consumer in connection with any credit or insurance transaction that is not initiated by the consumer, and that is provided to that motor vehicle dealer under section 604(c)(1)(B) of the FCRA (15 U.S.C. 1681b(c)(1)(B)).
§ 642.2   Definitions.
As used in this part:
(a) Simple and easy to understand means:
(1) A layered format as described in § 642.3 of this part;
(2) Plain language designed to be understood by ordinary consumers; and
(3) Use of clear and concise sentences, paragraphs, and sections.
(i) Examples. For purposes of this part, examples of factors to be considered in determining whether a statement is in plain language and uses clear and concise sentences, paragraphs, and sections include:
(A) Use of short explanatory sentences;
(B) Use of definite, concrete, everyday words;
(C) Use of active voice;
(D) Avoidance of multiple negatives;
(E) Avoidance of legal and technical business terminology;
(F) Avoidance of explanations that are imprecise and reasonably subject to different interpretations; and
(G) Use of language that is not misleading.
(ii) [Reserved]
(b) Motor vehicle dealer means any person excluded from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau jurisdiction as described in 12 U.S.C. 5519.
(c) Principal promotional document means the document designed to be seen first by the consumer, such as the cover letter.
§ 642.3   Prescreen opt-out notice.
Any motor vehicle dealer that uses a consumer report on any consumer in connection with any credit or insurance transaction that is not initiated by the consumer, and that is provided to that person under section 604(c)(1)(B) of the FCRA (15 U.S.C. 1681b(c)(1)(B)), shall, with each written solicitation made to the consumer about the transaction, provide the consumer with the following statement, consisting of a short portion and a long portion, which shall be in the same language as the offer of credit or insurance:
(a) Short notice. The short notice shall be a clear and conspicuous, and simple and easy to understand statement as follows:
(1) Content. The short notice shall state that the consumer has the right to opt out of receiving prescreened solicitations, and shall provide the toll-free number the consumer can call to exercise that right. The short notice also shall direct the consumer to the existence and location of the long notice, and shall state the heading for the long notice. The short notice shall not contain any other information.
(2) Form. The short notice shall be:
(i) In a type size that is larger than the type size of the principal text on the same page, but in no event smaller than 12-point type, or if provided by electronic means, then reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that the type size is larger than the type size of the principal text on the same page;
(ii) On the front side of the first page of the principal promotional document in the solicitation, or, if provided electronically, on the same page and in close proximity to the principal marketing message;
(iii) Located on the page and in a format so that the statement is distinct from other text, such as inside a border; and
(iv) In a type style that is distinct from the principal type style used on the same page, such as bolded, italicized, underlined, and/or in a color that contrasts with the color of the principal text on the page, if the solicitation is in more than one color.
(b) Long notice. The long notice shall be a clear and conspicuous, and simple and easy to understand statement as follows:
(1) Content. The long notice shall state the information required by section 615(d) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681m(d)). The long notice shall not include any other information that interferes with, detracts from, contradicts, or otherwise undermines the purpose of the notice.
(2) Form. The long notice shall:
(i) Appear in the solicitation;
(ii) Be in a type size that is no smaller than the type size of the principal text on the same page, and, for solicitations provided other than by electronic means, the type size shall in no event be smaller than 8-point type;
(iii) Begin with a heading in capital letters and underlined, and identifying the long notice as the “ PRESCREEN & OPT-OUT NOTICE ”;
(iv) Be in a type style that is distinct from the principal type style used on the same page, such as bolded, italicized, underlined, and/or in a color that contrasts with the color of the principal text on the page, if the solicitation is in more than one color; and
(v) Be set apart from other text on the page, such as by including a blank line above and below the statement, and by indenting both the left and right margins from other text on the page.
§ 642.4   Effective date.
This part is effective on August 1, 2005.