Providing Information to Consumers Regarding Security Freezes

Each consumer reporting agency shall provide to consumers, by posting on its website (including an obvious link to the information on its home page), complete easily accessible information, in plain language, concerning the steps necessary and documents and information required to place, lift and remove a security freeze on a consumer report. Such information shall include: (a) all identifying information that the consumer reporting agency requires from a consumer in order to place, temporarily lift or remove a security freeze on a consumer report, as set forth in M.G.L. c. 93, § 50; (b) the methods by which a consumer can make a request to the consumer reporting agency to place, temporarily lift or remove a security freeze on a consumer report which include toll free telephone, secure electronic communication, or a written request by certified or overnight mail or regular stamped mail to an electronic or postal address designated by the consumer reporting agency to receive such requests; (c) a notice that the consumer must place a security freeze with each consumer reporting agency separately; and (d) information on the procedures to replace a lost personal identification number or password. In addition, each consumer reporting agency shall provide a toll-free number to consumers who are unable to place, temporarily lift or remove a security freeze for any reason including, but not limited to, lack of access to or failure of any automated electronic means established by that consumer reporting agency to effectuate the placing, temporary lifting or removal of a security freeze that affords the consumer, during regular business hours, Eastern Standard Time, access to a live representative of the consumer reporting agency who can supply any additional information reasonably needed by the consumer to place, temporarily lift or remove a security freeze.