HB 1591 -- Consumer Credit Reports

Sponsor:  Yates

This bill allows a person to place a security alert or freeze on
his or her credit report.

When a security alert is placed, the consumer credit reporting
agency will notify anyone requesting credit information of the
alert.  Any person who receives notification of a security alert
must take reasonable steps to verify a consumer's identity before
lending money or extending credit.  A consumer can request his or
her identity be verified by calling a specified telephone number.
Consumer credit reporting agencies recklessly failing to place a
security alert on a consumer's report may be penalized up to
$2,500 and reasonable attorney fees.

If a security freeze is in place, information from a consumer's
credit report may not be released to a third party without prior
express authorization from the consumer.  Consumer credit
reporting agencies may not change official information in a
report without written confirmation to the consumer.

When contacted by a consumer who has reason to believe he or she
may have been a victim of identity theft, the consumer reporting
agencies must provide information on his or her rights.  If the
victim provides a police report establishing identity theft, the
consumer reporting agency must provide a specified number of
copies of the consumer's file free of charge to the victim.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:43 am