Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2017/commercial-law/title-14/subtitle-12/section-14-1212.1/
Timestamp: 2019-10-16 05:05:54
Document Index: 696219902

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 609', '§ 14', '§ 14']

§ 14-1212.1. Security freeze by consumer :: 2017 Maryland Code :: US Codes and Statutes :: US Law :: Justia
Justia › US Law › US Codes and Statutes › Maryland Code › 2017 Maryland Code › Commercial Law › Title 14 - Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions › Subtitle 12 - Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies › § 14-1212.1. Security freeze by consumer
Subtitle 12 - Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies
§ 14-1212.1. Security freeze by consumer
Universal Citation: MD Comm L Code § 14-1212.1 (2017)
(2) "Account review" includes activities related to account maintenance, account monitoring, credit line increases, and account upgrades and enhancements.
(3) "Security freeze" means a restriction placed on a consumer's consumer report at the request of the consumer that prohibits a consumer reporting agency from releasing the consumer's consumer report or any information derived from the consumer's consumer report without the express authorization of the consumer.
(b) Applicability. --
(1) This section does not apply to the use of a consumer's consumer report by:
(i) A person, or a subsidiary, affiliate, agent, or assignee of the person, with which the consumer has, or prior to assignment had, an account, contract, or debtor-creditor relationship, for the purpose of account review or collecting the financial obligation owing for the account, contract, or debt;
(ii) A person that was given access to the consumer's consumer report under subsection (e) of this section for the purpose of facilitating an extension of credit to the consumer or another permissible use;
(v) The Maryland Department of Health in connection with a fraud investigation conducted by the Department;
(ix) A person providing a consumer with a copy of the consumer's consumer report on request of the consumer; or
(c) Methods; written confirmation. --
(1) A consumer may elect to place a security freeze on the consumer's consumer report by:
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection, a consumer reporting agency shall place a security freeze on a consumer's consumer report within 3 business days after receiving a request under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(4) Within 5 business days after placing a security freeze on a consumer's consumer report, the consumer reporting agency shall:
(ii) Provide the consumer with a unique personal identification number or password to be used by the consumer when authorizing the release of the consumer's consumer report to a specific person or for a specific period of time; and
(i) If a consumer requests placement of a security freeze by telephone under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, the consumer reporting agency may require the consumer to confirm the request in writing on a form that the consumer reporting agency provides to the consumer with the materials sent in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(d) Release of consumer report during freeze prohibited. --
(1) While a security freeze is in place, a consumer reporting agency may not release a consumer's consumer report or any information derived from a consumer's consumer report without the express prior authorization of the consumer.
(2) A consumer reporting agency may advise a person that a security freeze is in effect with respect to a consumer's consumer report.
(3) A consumer reporting agency may not state or imply to any person that a security freeze on a consumer's consumer report reflects a negative credit score, credit history, or credit rating.
(e) Temporary lift of freeze. --
(1) If a consumer wants to temporarily lift a security freeze to allow the consumer's consumer report to be accessed by a specific person or for a specific period of time while a security freeze is in place, the consumer shall:
(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a consumer reporting agency shall comply with a request made under paragraph (1) of this subsection within 3 business days after receiving the request.
1. A consumer reporting agency shall comply with a request made under paragraph (1) of this subsection within 15 minutes after the consumer's request is received by the consumer reporting agency if the request is made by telephone, by electronic mail, or by secure connection on the Web site of the consumer reporting agency.
(3) A consumer reporting agency may develop procedures involving the use of facsimile or other electronic media to receive and process, in an expedited manner, a request from a consumer to temporarily lift or remove a security freeze on the consumer's consumer report.
(f) Effect of denial of access to consumer report during freeze. -- If, in connection with an application for credit or for any other use, a person requests access to a consumer's consumer report while a security freeze is in place and the consumer does not authorize access to the consumer report, the person may treat the application as incomplete.
(g) Removal of security freeze by consumer reporting agency. --
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a consumer reporting agency may remove or temporarily lift a security freeze placed on a consumer's consumer report only on request of the consumer made under subsection (e) or (h) of this section.
(2) (i) A consumer reporting agency may remove a security freeze placed on a consumer's consumer report if:
(h) Removal of security freeze by consumer. --
(1) Subject to subsection (g)(2) of this section, a security freeze shall remain in place until the consumer requests that the security freeze be removed.
(2) If a consumer wants to remove a security freeze from the consumer's consumer report, the consumer shall:
(j) Notice of rights. -- At any time that a consumer is entitled to receive a summary of rights under § 609 of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act or § 14-1206 of this subtitle, the following notice shall be included:
A consumer reporting agency may charge a reasonable fee not exceeding $ 5 for each placement, temporary lift, or removal of a security freeze. However, a consumer reporting agency may not charge any fee to a consumer who, at the time of a request to place, temporarily lift, or remove a security freeze, presents to the consumer reporting agency a police report of alleged identity fraud against the consumer or an identity theft passport. A consumer reporting agency also may not charge any fee to a consumer for the first placement of a security freeze with the consumer reporting agency.
(k) Violation of security freeze; notice. -- If a consumer reporting agency violates a security freeze by releasing a consumer's consumer report subject to a security freeze or any information derived from a consumer's consumer report subject to a security freeze without authorization, the consumer reporting agency, within 5 business days after discovering or being notified of the release, shall notify the consumer in writing of:
(l) Exclusive remedy. -- The exclusive remedy for a violation of subsection (e)(2)(ii) of this section shall be a complaint filed with the Commissioner under § 14-1217 of this subtitle.