(a) Any credit card issuer that receives a change of address request, other than for a correction of a typographical error, from a cardholder who orders a replacement credit card within 60 days before or after that request is received shall send to that cardholder a change of address notification that is addressed to the cardholder at the cardholder’s previous address of record. If the replacement credit card is requested prior to the effective date of the change of address, the notification shall be sent within 30 days of the change of address request. If the replacement credit card is requested after the effective date of the change of address, the notification shall be sent within 30 days of the request for the replacement credit card.
(b) Any business entity that provides telephone accounts that receives a change of address request, other than for a correction of a typographical error, from an accountholder who orders new service, shall send to that accountholder a change of address notification that is addressed to the accountholder at the accountholder’s previous address of record. The notification shall be sent within 30 days of the request for new service.
(c) The notice required pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) may be given by telephone or e-mail communication if the credit card issuer or business entity that provides telephone accounts reasonably believes that it has the current telephone number or e-mail address for the accountholder or cardholder who has requested a change of address. If the notification is in writing it may not contain the consumer’s account number, social security number, or other personal identifying information, but may contain the consumer’s name, previous address, and new address of record. For business entities described in subdivision (b), the notification may also contain the accountholder’s telephone number.
(d) A credit card issuer or a business entity that provides telephone accounts is not required to send a change of address notification when a change of address request is made in person by a consumer who has presented valid identification, or is made by telephone and the requester has provided a unique alpha-numeric password.
(e) The following definitions shall apply to this section:
(1) “Credit account” has the same meaning as “credit card,” as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1747.02.
(2) “Telephone account” means an account with a telephone corporation, as defined in Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 183, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 2005.)