A consumer reporting agency may charge limited fees for certain consumer disclosures and security-freeze services, but it cannot charge fees for listed free services in subsection (b).
Sec. 20.04. CHARGES FOR CERTAIN DISCLOSURES OR SERVICES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a consumer reporting agency may impose a reasonable charge on a consumer for the disclosure of information pertaining to the consumer or for placing a security freeze on a consumer file, temporarily lifting a security freeze for a designated period or for an identified requester, or removing a security freeze in accordance with this chapter. The amount of the charge for the disclosure of information pertaining to the consumer may not exceed $8. The amount of the charge for placing a security freeze on a consumer file, temporarily lifting a security freeze for a designated period, or removing a security freeze may not exceed $10 per request. The amount of the charge for temporarily lifting a security freeze for an identified requester may not exceed $12 per request. On January 1 of each year, a consumer reporting agency may increase the charge for disclosure to a consumer or for placing, temporarily lifting, or removing a security freeze. The increase, if any, must be based proportionally on changes to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as determined by the United States Department of Labor with fractional changes rounded to the nearest 50 cents. (b) A consumer reporting agency may not charge a fee for: (1) a request by a consumer for a copy of the consumer's file: (A) made not later than the 60th day after the date on which adverse action is taken against the consumer; or (B) made on the expiration of a 45-day security alert; (2) notification of the deletion of information that is found to be inaccurate or can no longer be verified sent to a person designated by the consumer, as prescribed by Section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. Section 1681i), as amended; (3) a set of instructions for understanding the information presented on the consumer report; (4) a toll-free telephone number that consumers may call to obtain additional assistance concerning the consumer report or to request a security alert; (5) a request for a security alert made by a consumer; or (6) the placement, temporary lifting, or removal of a security freeze at the request of a consumer who has submitted to the consumer reporting agency a copy of a valid police report, investigative report, or complaint involving the alleged commission of an offense under Section 32.51, Penal Code. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1396, Sec. 33(a), eff. Oct. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1326, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1143 (S.B. 222), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2007. Assigned by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 64 (S.B. 60), Sec. 4, eff. January 1, 2014.