Source: https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/HTML/2009-2010/SL2009-355.html
Timestamp: 2019-06-26 01:01:11
Document Index: 590732576

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1681', '§ 1681', '§ 2331', '§ 15', '§ 75', '§ 75', '§ 1681', '§ 75']

S.L. 2009-355
AN ACT to enhance protections against identity theft and to protect the credit of crime victims during the pendency of crime victims compensation fund applications and appeals.
SECTION 1. G.S. 75-63 reads as rewritten:
(a) A consumer may place a security freeze on the consumer's credit report by making a request in writing by certified mail to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with this subsection. A security freeze shall prohibit, subject to exceptions in subsection (l) of this section, the consumer reporting agency from releasing the consumer's credit report or any information from it without the express authorization of the consumer. When a security freeze is in place, a consumer reporting agency may not release the consumer's credit report or information to a third party without prior express authorization from the consumer. This subsection 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.report, provided that the consumer reporting agency does not state or otherwise imply to the third party that the consumer's security freeze reflects a negative credit score, history, report, or rating. A consumer reporting agency shall place a security freeze on a consumer's credit report if the consumer requests a security freeze by any of the following methods:
(b) A consumer reporting agency shall place a security freeze on a consumer's credit report no later than five three business days after receiving a written request from the consumer.consumer by mail. A consumer reporting agency that receives such a request electronically or by telephone shall comply with the request within 24 hours of receiving the request.
(c) The consumer reporting agency shall send a written confirmation of the security freeze to the consumer within 10 three business days of placing the freeze and at the same time shall provide the consumer with a unique personal identification number or password, other than the consumer's social security number, to be used by the consumer when providing authorization for the release of the consumer's credit report for a specific period of time.time, or to a specific party, or for permanently lifting the freeze.
(d) If the consumer wishes to allow the consumer's credit report to be accessed for a specific period of time or by a specific party while a freeze is in place, the consumer shall contact the consumer reporting agency,agency by mail, phone, or electronically, request that the freeze be temporarily lifted, lifted or lifted with respect to a specific party, and provide all of the following:
(f) A consumer reporting agency that receives a request by mail from a consumer to temporarily lift a freeze on a credit report pursuant to subsection (d) of this section shall comply with the request no later than three business days after receiving the request. A consumer reporting agency that receives such a request electronically or by telephone shall comply with the request within 15 minutes of receiving the request.
(g) A consumer reporting agency shall remove or temporarily liftremove, temporarily lift, or lift with respect to a specific third party a freeze placed on a consumer's credit report only in the following cases:
(j) A security freeze shall remain in place until the consumer requests that the security freeze be temporarily lifted for a specific period of time or to a specific third party or removed. A consumer reporting agency shall remove a security freeze within three business days 15 minutes of receiving aan electronic request for removal from the consumer or within three business days of receiving a written or telephonic request for removal from the consumer, who provides all of the following:
(o) This section does not prevent a consumer reporting agency from charging a fee of no more than ten dollars ($10.00) to a consumer for each freeze, removal of the freeze, or temporary lifting of the freeze for a period of time, regarding access to a consumer credit report,A consumer reporting agency shall not charge a fee to put a security freeze in place, remove a freeze, or lift a freeze pursuant to subsection (d) or (j) of this section, provided that any such request is made electronically. If a request to put a security freeze in place is made by telephone or by mail, a consumer reporting agency may charge a fee to a consumer not to exceed three dollars ($3.00), except that a consumer reporting agency may not charge any fee to a consumer over the age of 62, to a victim of identity theft who has submitted a copy of a valid investigative or incident report or complaint with a law enforcement agency about the unlawful use of the victim's identifying information by another person.person, or to the victim's spouse. A consumer reporting agency shall not charge an additional fee to a consumer who requests to temporarily lift for a specific period of time or to a specific third party, reinstate, or remove a security freeze. A consumer reporting agency shall not charge a consumer for a onetime reissue of a replacement personal identification number. A consumer reporting agency may charge a fee not to exceed three dollars ($3.00) to provide any subsequent replacement personal identification number.
(o1) A parent or guardian of a minor residing in this State may, upon appropriate proof of identity and proof of their relationship to the minor, inquire of a nationwide consumer reporting agency, as defined in section 603(p) [15 U.S.C. § 1681a(p)] of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681, et seq., as to the existence of a credit report for the minor of the parent or guardian. If a credit report for the minor exists, the nationwide consumer reporting agency shall make reasonable efforts to prevent providing a credit report on the minor until the minor reaches the age of majority. If a credit report for the minor does not exist, the nationwide consumer reporting agency has no obligation to create one.
'North Carolina Consumers Have the Right to Obtain a Security Freeze.
You have a right to place a "security freeze" on your credit report pursuant to North Carolina law. The security freeze will prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing any information in your credit report without your express authorization. A security freeze must can be requested in writing by certified mail.first-class mail, by telephone, or electronically. You also may request a freeze by visiting the following Web site: [URL] or calling the following telephone number: [NUMBER].
The freeze will be placed within five three business days.days if you request it by mail, or within 24 hours if you request it by telephone or electronically. When you place a security freeze on your credit report, within 10 three business days, you will be provided sent a personal identification number or a password to use when you want to remove or lift temporarily the security freeze.the security freeze, temporarily lift it, or lift it with respect to a particular third party.
You can remove a freeze or authorize temporary access for a specific period of timefreeze, temporarily lift a freeze, or lift a freeze with respect to a particular third party by contacting the consumer reporting agency and providing all of the following:
(3) Proper information regarding the period of time you want your report available to users of the credit report.report, or the third party with respect to which you want to lift the freeze.
A consumer reporting agency that receives a request from you to temporarily lift a freeze or to lift a freeze with respect to a particular third party on a credit report shall comply with the request no later than three business days after receiving the request.request by mail and no later than 15 minutes after receiving a request by telephone or electronically. A consumer reporting agency may charge you up to ten dollars ($10.00)three dollars ($3.00) for each time you freeze, remove the freeze, or temporarily lift the freeze for a period of time, except a consumer reporting agency may not charge any amount to a victim of identify theft who has submitted a copy of a valid investigative or incident report or complaint with a law enforcement agency about the unlawful use of the victim's identifying information by another person.to institute a freeze if your request is made by telephone or by mail. A consumer reporting agency may not charge you any amount to freeze, remove a freeze, temporarily lift a freeze, or lift a freeze with respect to a particular third party, if any of the following are true:
You have a right to bring a civil action against someone who violates your rights under the credit reporting laws. The action can be brought against a consumer reporting agency or a user of your credit report.'
(q) A violation of this section is a violation of G.S. 75-1.1."
SECTION 2. G.S. 75-65 reads as rewritten:
(d) The notice shall be clear and conspicuous. The notice shall include a descriptionall of the following:
(1) The A description of the incident in general terms.
(2) The A description of the type of personal information that was subject to the unauthorized access and acquisition.
(3) The A description of the general acts of the business to protect the personal information from further unauthorized access.
SECTION 4. The Conference of Clerks of Superior Court shall, in consultation with the registers of deeds, annually study the status of the individual counties and judicial districts as to whether or not the clerks of superior court or the registers of deeds are implementing this act and report results of the study to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations on or before March 1 of each year.
SECTION 5. G.S. 15B-2 reads as rewritten:
(1) "Allowable expense" means reasonable Allowable expense. - Reasonable charges incurred for reasonably needed products, services, and accommodations, including those for medical care, rehabilitation, medically-related property, and other remedial treatment and care.
(2) "Claimant" means anyClaimant. - Any of the following persons who claims an award of compensation under this Article:
d. A person who is authorized to act on behalf of a victim, a dependent, or a third person described in subdivision c.
The claimant, however, may not be the offender or an accomplice of the offender who committed the criminally injurious conduct.
(3) "Collateral source" means a Collateral source. - A source of benefits or advantages for economic loss otherwise compensable that the victim or claimant has received or that is readily available to the victim or the claimant from any of the following sources:
(4) "Commission" means theCommission. - The Crime Victims Compensation Commission established by G.S. 15B-3.
(5) "Criminally injurious conduct" means conduct Criminally injurious conduct. - Conduct that by its nature poses a substantial threat of personal injury or death, and is punishable by fine or imprisonment or death, or would be so punishable but for the fact that the person engaging in the conduct lacked the capacity to commit the crime under the laws of this State. Criminally injurious conduct includes conduct that amounts to an offense involving impaired driving as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(24a), and conduct that amounts to a violation of G.S. 20-166 if the victim was a pedestrian or was operating a vehicle moved solely by human power or a mobility impairment device. For purposes of this Article, a mobility impairment device is a device that is designed for and intended to be used as a means of transportation for a person with a mobility impairment, is suitable for use both inside and outside a building, and whose maximum speed does not exceed 12 miles per hour when the device is being operated by a person with a mobility impairment. Criminally injurious conduct does not include conduct arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle when the conduct is punishable only as a violation of other provisions of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes. Criminally injurious conduct shall also include an act of terrorism, as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2331, that is committed outside of the United States against a citizen of this State.
(6) "Dependent" means anDependent. - An individual wholly or substantially dependent upon the victim for care and support and includes a child of the victim born after his death.
(7) "Dependent's economic loss" means lossDependent's economic loss. - Loss after a victim's death of contributions of things of economic value to his dependents, not including services they would have received from the victim if he had not suffered the fatal injury, less expenses of the dependents avoided by reason of the victim's death.
(8) "Dependent's replacement service loss" means lossDependent's replacement service loss. - Loss reasonably incurred by dependents after a victim's death in obtaining ordinary and necessary services in lieu of those the victim would have performed for their benefit if he had not suffered the fatal injury, less expenses of the dependents avoided by reason of the victim's death and not subtracted in calculating dependent's economic loss.
(9) "Director" means theDirector. - The Director of the Commission appointed under G.S. 15B-3(g).
(10) "Economic loss" means economicEconomic loss. - Economic detriment consisting only of allowable expense, work loss, replacement services loss, and household support loss. If criminally injurious conduct causes death, economic loss includes a dependent's economic loss and a dependent's replacement service loss. Noneconomic detriment is not economic loss, but economic loss may be caused by pain and suffering or physical impairment.
(10a) "Household support loss" means the Household support loss. - The loss of support that a victim would have received from the victim's spouse for the purpose of maintaining a home or residence for the victim and the victim's dependents. A victim may be compensated fifty dollars ($50.00) per week for each dependent child. Compensation for household support loss shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00) per week and shall be limited to 26 weeks commencing from the date of the injury. A victim may receive only one compensation for household support loss. Household support loss is only available to an unemployed victim whose spouse is the offender who committed the criminally injurious conduct that is the basis of the victim's claim under this act.
(11) "Noneconomic detriment" means pain,Noneconomic detriment. - Pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, or other nonpecuniary damage.
(12) "Replacement services loss" means expensesReplacement services loss. - Expenses reasonably incurred in obtaining ordinary and necessary services in lieu of those the injured person would have performed, not for income but for the benefit of himself or his family, if he had not been injured.
(12a) "Substantial evidence" means relevantSubstantial evidence. - Relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.
(13) "Victim" means aVictim. - A person who suffers personal injury or death proximately caused by criminally injurious conduct.
(14) "Work loss" means lossWork loss. - Loss of income from work that the injured person would have performed if he had not been injured and expenses reasonably incurred by him to obtain services in lieu of those he would have performed for income, reduced by any income from substitute work actually performed by him, or by income he would have earned in available appropriate substitute work that he was capable of performing but unreasonably failed to undertake.
Compensation for work loss will be limited to 26 weeks commencing from the date of the injury, and compensation shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00) per week. A claim for work loss will be paid only upon proof that the injured person was gainfully employed at the time of the criminally injurious conduct and, by physician's certificate, that the injured person was unable to work."
SECTION 6. Chapter 15B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 15B-26. Crime victims credit protection.
(c) A creditor may request monthly verification from the Commission that the application or appeal is still pending, and the Commission shall provide this verification."
SECTION 7. Chapter 75 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"Credit Monitoring Services Act.
"§ 75-133. Title.
This Article shall be known and may be cited as the 'Credit Monitoring Services Act.'
"§ 75-134. Definitions.
(1) Credit monitoring service. - Any person who offers, for a fee or compensation, to obtain, provide, or monitor a credit report on behalf of a consumer, or to assist a consumer in obtaining or monitoring the consumer's credit report, and provides or purports to provide the foregoing services. The term also includes any person who offers, for a fee or compensation, to obtain or provide a fraud alert on behalf of a consumer or to assist a consumer in obtaining such fraud alert. The term does not include the following activities of a consumer reporting agency, as defined in section 603(f) [15 U.S.C. § 1681a(f)] of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, provided that, while the excluded activities themselves do not fall within the definition of the term 'credit monitoring service' none of these excluded activities exempts a consumer reporting agency from the duty to provide the notice required under G.S. 75-135 where the sale of a credit monitoring service occurs as a result of an offer for the credit monitoring service made at a time during communications involving such activities:
(3) Consumer. - An individual.
(5) Person. - Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, business establishment, or any other legal or commercial entity.
"§ 75-135. Required disclosure.
(c) A violation of this section is a violation of G.S. 75-1.1, except that compliance with the requirement that the notice required by this section be clear and conspicuous shall be enforced exclusively by the Attorney General under G.S. 75-15."
SECTION 8. This act becomes effective October 1, 2009.
Approved 9:27 a.m. this 27th day of July, 2009