Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2007_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/hb2318%20intr.htm
Timestamp: 2018-01-21 01:30:31
Document Index: 575940512

Matched Legal Cases: ['§46', '§46', '§46', '§46', '§46', '§46', '§46', '§46', '§46', '§46', '§1681', '§1681']

(By Delegates Marshall, Eldridge, Miley,
Caputo, Brown and Walters)
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §46A-2A-101, §46A-2A-102, §46A-2A-103, §46A-2A-104 and §46A-2A-105, all relating to consumer protection generally; defining certain terms; providing a procedure for consumers to implement a security freeze to prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing all or any part of the consumer's credit report or any information derived from it without the express authorization of the consumer in certain circumstances; providing for notice of consumer rights; providing civil penalties for violations; and making a violation an unfair or deceptive act or practice.
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §46A-2A-101, §46A-2A-102, §46A-2A-103, §46A-2A-104 and §46A-2A-105, all to read as follows:
"Consumer report" or "credit report" means any written, oral, or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumer's credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living which is used or expected to be used or collected, in whole or in part, for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumer's eligibility for:
(C) Any other purpose authorized under section 15 U.S.C. §1681b.
"Consumer reporting agency" means any entity which, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages, in whole or in part, in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties.
"Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, cooperative, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity.
"Security freeze" means a notice, at the request of the consumer and subject to certain exceptions, that prohibits the consumer reporting agency from releasing all or any part of the consumer's credit report or any information derived from it without the express authorization of the consumer. If a security freeze is in place, a report or information may not be released to a third party without prior express authorization from the consumer. This subdivision does not prevent a consumer reporting agency from advising a third party that a security freeze is in effect with respect to the consumer's credit report.
(l) A consumer reporting agency may not charge a consumer any fee to place a security freeze on that consumer's consumer report.
(a) At any time that a consumer is required to receive a summary of rights required under section 609 of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681g, the following notice shall be included:
West Virginia Consumers Have the Right
to Obtain a Security Freeze.
(b) If a consumer requests information about a security freeze, the consumer reporting agency shall provide the consumer with the notice provided in this section, about how to place, temporarily lift and permanently lift a security freeze.
(a) If a consumer reporting agency erroneously, whether by accident or design, violates the security freeze by releasing credit information that has been placed under a security freeze, the affected consumer is entitled to:
(b) Each violation of the security freeze is a separate incident for purposes of imposing penalties under this section.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a procedure by which a consumer may implement a security freeze to prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing all or any part of the consumer's credit report or any information derived from it without the express authorization of the consumer. Civil penalties are provided for violations.