Sec. 20.0385. APPLICABILITY OF SECURITY ALERT AND SECURITY FREEZE    


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  • (a) The requirement under this chapter to place a security alert or security freeze on a consumer file does not apply to:

    (1) a check service or fraud prevention service company that issues consumer reports:

    (A) to prevent or investigate fraud; or

    (B) for purposes of approving or processing negotiable instruments, electronic funds transfers, or similar methods of payment; or

    (2) a deposit account information service company that issues consumer reports related to account closures caused by fraud, substantial overdrafts, automated teller machine abuses, or similar negative information regarding a consumer to an inquiring financial institution for use by the financial institution only in reviewing a consumer request for a deposit account with that institution.

    (b) The requirement under this chapter to place a security freeze on a consumer file does not apply to a consumer reporting agency that:

    (1) acts only to resell credit information by assembling and merging information contained in a database of another consumer reporting agency or multiple consumer reporting agencies; and

    (2) does not maintain a permanent database of credit information from which new consumer reports are produced.

    (c) Notwithstanding Section 20.12, a violation of a requirement under this chapter to place, temporarily lift, or remove a security freeze on a consumer file is not a false, misleading, or deceptive act or practice under Subchapter E, Chapter 17.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1326, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1143 , Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2007.