40-12-504. Permanent removal or temporary lift of security freeze; requirements and timing.

(a) A consumer reporting agency may remove a security freeze from a consumer's credit report only if:

(i) The consumer makes a material misrepresentation of fact in connection with the placement of the security freeze and the consumer reporting agency notifies the consumer in writing before removing the security freeze; or

(ii) The consumer reporting agency receives the consumer's request through a contact method established and required in accordance with W.S. 40-12-503(f) and the consumer reporting agency receives the consumer's proper identification and other information sufficient to identify the consumer including the consumer's personal identification number or password.

(b) A consumer reporting agency shall temporarily lift a security freeze upon receipt of:

(i) The consumer's request through the contact method established by the consumer reporting agency;

(ii) The consumer's proper identification and other information sufficient to identify the consumer including the consumer's personal identification number or password;

(iii) A specific designation of the period of time for which the security freeze is to be lifted; and

(iv) The consumer reporting agency receives the payment of any fee required under W.S. 40-12-506.

(c) A consumer reporting agency shall temporarily lift a security freeze from a consumer's credit report within:

(i) Three (3) business days after the business day on which the consumer's request to temporarily lift the security freeze is received by the consumer reporting agency through the contact method developed by the consumer reporting agency as required under W.S. 40-15-503(f); or

(ii) On or after September 1, 2008, within fifteen (15) minutes after the consumer's request is received by the consumer reporting agency through the electronic contact method developed by the consumer reporting agency as required under W.S. 40-12-503(f) or the use of telephone, during normal business hours and includes the consumer's proper identification and correct personal identification number or password.

(d) A consumer reporting agency shall permanently remove a security freeze from a consumer's credit report within three (3) business days after the business day on which the consumer's request is received by the consumer reporting agency through the contact method developed by the agency to receive such requests as required under W.S. 40-12-503(f).

(e) A consumer reporting agency need not temporarily lift a security freeze within the time provided in subsection (c) of this section if:

(i) The consumer fails to meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section; or

(ii) The consumer reporting agency's ability to temporarily lift the security freeze within fifteen (15) minutes is prevented by:

(A) An act of God, including fire, earthquakes, hurricanes, storms or similar natural disaster or phenomena;

(B) Unauthorized or illegal acts by a third party, including terrorism, sabotage, riot, vandalism, labor strikes or disputes disrupting operations or similar occurrence;

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

(D) Governmental action, including emergency orders or regulations, judicial or law enforcement action or similar directives;

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

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

(G) Receipt of a removal request outside of normal business hours.