51-33-01. Definitions

51-33-01. Definitions In this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires: 1. "Consumer report" has the same meaning as provided in 15 U.S.C. 1681(a)(d). 2. "Consumer reporting agency" means any person that for monetary fees or dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages 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, and which uses any means or facility of interstate commerce for the purpose of preparing or furnishing consumer reports. 3. "Proper identification" means information sufficient to verify identity. Only if the consumer is unable to sufficiently provide self-identifying information may a consumer reporting agency require additional information concerning the consumer's employment and personal or family history in order to verify the consumer's identity. 4. "Security freeze" means a notice placed in a consumer's consumer report, at the request of the consumer and subject to certain exceptions, that prohibits the consumer reporting agency from releasing the consumer credit file or any information derived from it, without the express authorization of the consumer. If a security freeze is in place, information from a consumer's consumer credit file may not be released to a third party without prior express authorization from the consumer. A security freeze does not prevent a consumer reporting agency from advising a third party that a security freeze is in effect with respect to the consumer report. 5. "Victim of identity theft" means a consumer who has a copy of a valid police report, investigative report, or complaint to law enforcement evidencing that the consumer has alleged to be a victim of identity theft.