Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 12E-1.012 - Consumer Reporting Agencies

(1) Definitions. As used in this rule:

(a) "Consumer Reporting Agency, " also referred to as a "credit bureau" or a "credit reporting agency, " means a person who, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part 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 who uses any means or facility of interstate commerce for the purpose of preparing or furnishing consumer reports.

(b) "Delinquency" means the total amount of support that has come due and is unpaid pursuant to the payment schedule set forth in the support order as that term is defined by Section 61.046(21), F. S.

(c) "Overdue Support" means the amount of a delinquency, arrearage, or both, that is owed under a support order as that term is defined by Section 61.046(21), F. S.

(2) Reporting Overdue Support upon a Request from a Consumer Reporting Agency.

(a) If a consumer reporting agency requests information from the Department pursuant to Section 61.1354(1), F.S., concerning an obligor who has not been reported by the Department pursuant to subsection (3) of this rule, the Department shall, after complying with subsection (4) of this rule, provide the consumer reporting agency with the obligor's name, social security number, and the amount of overdue support he or she owes, if any.

(b) If a consumer reporting agency or lending institution requests the Department to verify the amount of overdue support owed by an obligor who has been reported by the Department pursuant to subsection (3) of this rule, the Department shall provide the information to the consumer reporting agency or lending institution. A request from a lending institution must be accompanied by a written authorization signed by the obligor authorizing the Department to disclose the information.

(3) Periodic Reporting to Consumer Reporting Agencies.

(a) The initial report concerning an obligor may not be released until the Department has complied with the notice and hearing requirements in subsection (4) of this rule. Subsequent reports providing updated amounts owed by an obligor are released by the Department without further notice to the obligor.

(b) The Department initiates reporting to consumer reporting agencies if the case meets all the following criteria, unless any of the factors listed in paragraph (3)(c), are present:

1. The Department has a valid mailing or residential address for the obligor,

2. The delinquency in the case is:

a. Equal to or greater than $400, or

b. Greater than $100 and less than $400, and:

(I) For a weekly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 10 days or longer,

(II) For a bi-weekly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 17 days or longer,

(III) For a semi-monthly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 18 days or longer,

(IV) For a monthly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 34 days or longer,

(V) For a quarterly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 95 days or longer,

(VI) For a semi-annual support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 186 days or longer,

(VII) For an annual support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 368 days or longer,

(VIII) For a one-time support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 34 days or longer.

3. The Department has a valid social security number for the obligor,

4. Overdue support in the case equals or exceeds two times the monthly support obligation, if any.

(c) The Department may not initiate reporting to consumer reporting agencies in a case if any of the following factors are present:

1. The obligor receives temporary cash assistance,

2. The obligor receives Supplemental Security Income benefits,

3. The obligor is complying with a written agreement he or she entered with the Department,

4. The obligor receives reemployment assistance (formerly known as unemployment compensation),

5. The Department has initiated an income deduction notice to the current employer or other income provider during the employer's or income provider's most recent pay frequency (e.g., weekly, monthly), if known, or during the support order obligation frequency (e.g., weekly, monthly),

6. The Department has placed an override on reporting overdue support to consumer reporting agencies (for example, when a court has prohibited using the action on a specific case),

7. The Department has any of the following compliance actions pending in the case:

a. A past-due notice sent to the obligor,

b. An appointment letter sent to the obligor,

c. An action to suspend the obligor's driver license and motor vehicle registration(s),

d. An action to suspend the obligor's business, professional, occupational, or recreational license or certification,

e. A legal action against the obligor for contempt of court or to establish a repayment on past-due support,

f. An action to place a lien on the obligor's motor vehicle(s) or vessel(s),

g. A referral of the obligor's case to another state's Title IV-D agency to take compliance action against the obligor,

8. The obligor is paying support pursuant to an income deduction notice, or

9. The obligor is incarcerated.

(d)

1. The Department may not release the initial report concerning an obligor's overdue support if, after the obligor receives notice pursuant to subsection (4), the Department and the obligor enter into a written agreement establishing a payment plan in accordance with Rule 12E-1.027, F.A.C.

2. If the obligor does not comply with the written agreement, the Department shall release the initial report and subsequent periodic reports without further notice to the obligor, which must be stated in the written agreement.

3. The Department may not release the initial report for as long as the obligor complies with the written agreement.

(4) Notice and Right to Hearing.

(a) Before releasing a report or providing information concerning an obligor under this section, the Department sends the obligor by regular mail to his or her last known address a Notice of Intent to Report to Consumer Reporting Agencies, Form CS-EF32, incorporated herein by reference, effective 09/23, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15850). The notice informs the obligor that:

1. The Department will report the amount of overdue support to the consumer reporting agencies,

2. The Department will report an update of the overdue support amount each month,

3. Reporting overdue support to consumer reporting agencies may affect the obligor's ability to obtain credit,

4. The obligor may avoid the initial report by paying the full amount of the overdue support within 20 days after the date the notice is mailed,

5. The obligor may request the Department to enter into a written agreement that establishes a payment plan to avoid reporting the overdue support; and,

6. By requesting an informal review, the obligor may contest the information proposed to be released if the overdue support amount is incorrect or the obligor is not the individual obligated to pay support.

(b) An obligor may contest the Department's reporting of overdue support to consumer reporting agencies. To contest:

1. The obligor must submit a written request for informal review to the Department at the address specified in the Notice of Intent to Report to Consumer Reporting Agencies (CS-EF32) within 20 calendar days after the mailing date of the notice.

2. If a written request for informal review is received timely, the Department shall conduct the informal review to determine whether reporting to consumer reporting agencies is appropriate. The Department shall conclude its review within 20 days after receiving the request.

3. When the review is concluded, the Department will hand-deliver or send the obligor by regular mail a Notice of Decision Concerning Report to Consumer Reporting Agencies, Form CS-EF62, incorporated herein by reference, effective 07/22, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14808). The notice informs the obligor whether the Department intends to report the obligor's overdue support amount to the consumer reporting agencies. The notice also informs the obligor of the right under Chapter 120, F.S., to file a petition for administrative hearing to contest the accuracy of the information to be reported.

(5) Modifying Previous Reports to Consumer Reporting Agencies. The Department shall notify consumer reporting agencies to remove or modify the amount of overdue support from the obligor's consumer report if the Department determines the amount reported by the Department is incorrect or has been paid in full.

(6) Department Requests for Consumer Reports. The Department is authorized to request consumer reports from consumer reporting agencies pursuant to Sections 61.1354(3) and (4), F.S. Before the Department submits a request for a consumer report to a consumer reporting agency, the Department shall certify one-time to the consumer reporting agency that every subsequent request for a consumer report from that agency will meet the requirements set forth in Section 61.1354(3), F.S. When the Department requests a consumer report, the Department shall provide the Notice of Intent to Request Credit Report, Form CS-EF15, incorporated herein by reference, effective 09/19/2017, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08619), by regular mail to the individual's last known address at least 15 days prior to transmitting the request to the consumer reporting agency.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 12E-1.012

Rulemaking Authority 61.1354(5), 409.2557(3)(i) FS. Law Implemented 61.1354 FS.

New 6-17-92, Amended 7-20-94, Formerly 10C-25.009, Amended 10-22-00, 10-30-06, Amended by Florida Register Volume 43, Number 173, September 6, 2017 effective 9/19/2017, Amended by Florida Register Volume 46, Number 210, October 27, 2020 effective 11/12/2020, Amended by Florida Register Volume 47, Number 218, November 9, 2021 effective 11/21/2021, Amended by Florida Register Volume 48, Number 101, May 24, 2022 effective 6/9/2022, Amended by Florida Register Volume 48, Number 198, October 11, 2022 effective 10/26/2022, Amended by Florida Register Volume 49, Number 168, August 29, 2023 effective 9/14/2023.

New 6-17-92, Amended 7-20-94, Formerly 10C-25.009, Amended 10-22-00, 10-30-06, 9-19-17, 11-12-20, 11-21-21, 6-9-22, 10-26-22, 9-14-23.