Sec. 45.48.130. - Access and actions during security freeze. - Alaska Statutes

(a) While a security freeze is in place, a consumer credit reporting agency shall allow a third party access to a consumer's credit report or credit score if the consumer requests that the consumer credit reporting agency allow the access.

(b) To make a request under (a) of this section, the consumer shall contact the consumer credit reporting agency by mail at the address designated by the consumer credit reporting agency to receive security freeze requests or as allowed by (c) of this section, authorize the consumer credit reporting agency to allow the access, and provide the consumer credit reporting agency with

(1) proper identification to verify the consumer's identity;

(2) the unique personal identification number, password, or similar device provided under AS 45.48.120 (b); and

(3) the proper information necessary to identify the third party to whom the consumer credit reporting agency may allow the access or the time period during which the consumer credit reporting agency may allow the access to third parties who request the access.

(c) In addition to making the request by mail, a consumer may make a request under (a) of this section by telephone or by facsimile, the Internet, or other electronic media if the consumer credit reporting agency has developed procedures for using the telephone or an electronic medium to receive and process the request in an expedited manner.

(d) Except as provided by (e) of this section, a consumer credit reporting agency that receives a request from a consumer under (b) or (c) of this section shall comply with the request within 15 minutes after receiving the request by telephone or by an electronic medium or within three business days after receiving the request by mail.

(e) A consumer credit reporting agency is not required to comply with a request under (a) of this section within the 15 minutes required by (d) of this section if

(1) the consumer fails to satisfy the requirements of (b) of this section;

(2) one of the following events prevents the consumer credit reporting agency from removing the security freeze within 15 minutes:

(A) an act of God, including a fire, earthquake, hurricane, storm, or similar natural disaster or phenomenon;

(B) an unauthorized or illegal act by another person, including terrorism, sabotage, riot, vandalism, labor strike, labor dispute disrupting operations, or similar occurrence;

(C) an operational interruption, including an electrical failure, unanticipated delay in equipment or replacement part delivery, computer hardware or software failure inhibiting response time, or similar disruption;

(D) governmental action, including an emergency order or regulation, a judicial law enforcement action, or a similar directive;

(E) regularly scheduled maintenance during other than normal business hours of the consumer credit reporting agency's systems, or updates to the consumer credit reporting agency's systems;

(F) commercially reasonable maintenance of, or repair to, the consumer credit reporting agency's systems that is unexpected or unscheduled; or

(3) the request is received outside of normal business hours.

(f) If a security freeze is in place, a consumer credit reporting agency may not release the credit report or credit score to a third party without the prior express authorization of the consumer.

(g) If a security freeze is in place on a consumer's credit report and credit score and if a third party applies to a consumer credit reporting agency to provide the third party with access to the consumer's credit report or credit score, the consumer credit reporting agency and the third party may treat the third party's application as incomplete unless the consumer authorizes the access under (a) of this section.

(h) If a security freeze is in place, a consumer credit reporting agency may not change the consumer's official information in the consumer's credit report and credit score without sending a written statement of the change to the consumer within 30 days after the change is made. A consumer credit reporting agency is not required to send a written statement if the consumer credit reporting agency makes a technical change in the consumer's official information. If a consumer credit reporting agency makes a change, other than a technical change, in a consumer's address, the consumer credit reporting agency shall send the written statement to the consumer at both the new address and the former address. In this subsection,

(1) "official information" means name, date of birth, social security number, and address;

(2) "technical change" means changing spelling, transposing numbers or letters, abbreviating a word, or spelling out an abbreviation.

(i) This section is not intended to prevent a consumer credit reporting agency from advising a third party that requests access to a consumer's credit report or credit score that a security freeze is in effect.

(j) The procedures used by a consumer credit reporting agency for implementing the provisions of this section may include the use of telephone, facsimile, or electronic means if making the disclosure by the electronic means is consistent with the provisions regarding electronic records and signatures required for notices legally required to be in writing under 15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act).