§ 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.