A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade regulation.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what happens if a consumer does not have an existing file or how it affects consumers who discover misuse after the deadline.

Social Security Number Search Requests

This bill allows consumers to ask credit agencies if their Social Security number is linked to any files that do not belong to them, and requires the agency to provide information about such files after December 31, 2026.

What This Bill Does

• Defines a 'Social Security number search request' as when someone asks a consumer reporting agency to check if their Social Security number is connected to any files not belonging to them.
• After December 31, 2026, a consumer reporting agency must do this search if the person has an existing file and provides proper identification and written consent.
• The agency must confirm with the Social Security Administration that the given Social Security number belongs to the consumer before doing the search.
• If the search finds files not belonging to the consumer, the agency must tell how many there are and who got reports about these files in the last year.
• Credit reporting agencies cannot charge extra fees for handling a search request.

Who It Names or Affects

• Consumers who want to check if their Social Security number is linked to any wrong credit files.
• Consumer reporting agencies that must handle and respond to such requests.

Terms To Know

Social Security number search request

A request made by a person asking a consumer reporting agency to check if their Social Security number is linked to any files not belonging to them.

Consumer reporting agency

An organization that collects and provides information about people's credit history, like Equifax or TransUnion.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if the consumer does not have an existing file with the agency.
• It is unclear how this will affect consumers who do not know their Social Security number has been misused until after December 31, 2026.

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade regulation.
Social Security number search requests.

Current Bill Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade regulation.

Social Security number search requests.

Defines "Social Security number search request" (search request) as a request made by a consumer to a consumer reporting agency to conduct a search of all files maintained by the consumer reporting agency to determine if the consumer's Social Security number is associated with one or more consumer credit files not associated with the consumer. Provides that after December 31, 2026, upon receiving a search request from a consumer, a consumer reporting agency shall fulfill the consumer's search request if: (1) the consumer reporting agency maintains a file on the consumer; and (2) the consumer provides proper identification and written consent for the consumer reporting agency to verify with the Social Security Administration that the consumer's Social Security number belongs to the consumer. Provides that in fulfilling a search request, a consumer reporting agency shall: (1) verify with the Social Security Administration that the Social Security number supplied by the consumer belongs to the consumer; and (2) conduct a search of all files maintained by the consumer reporting agency to determine if the consumer's Social Security number is associated with one or more files not associated with the consumer. Provides that if the search indicates that the consumer's Social Security number is associated with any files not associated with the consumer, the consumer reporting agency must provide information as to: (1) the number of such files; and (2) each person that procured a consumer report in connection with those files during the one year period immediately preceding the date of the consumer's search request. Prohibits a consumer reporting agency from charging or increasing certain fees in connection with a search request.