; and (2) may not use the social security number of a consumer as a method to verify the consumer. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 609(a)(1) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681g(a)(1) ) is amended by striking except that— and all that follows through (B) nothing and inserting except that nothing . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2020. 3. Exclusion of paid medical debt Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c(a) ) is amended, by adding at the end the following: (9) Paid debt arising from the receipt of medically necessary, non-elective medical services, products, or devices which from the date of payment, antedate the report by more than 1 year. . 4. Security freezes for protected consumers (a) Placement of freeze Section 605A(j)(2)(A) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c–1(j)(2)(A) ) is amended to read as follows: (A) In general Upon receiving a direct request from a protected consumer’s representative, by mail, toll-free telephone, or secure electronic means, that a consumer reporting agency place a security freeze, and upon receiving sufficient proof of identification and sufficient proof of authority, the consumer reporting agency shall, free of charge, place the security freeze not later than 3 business days after receiving the request directly from the protected consumer’s representative. . (b) Removal of freeze Section 605A(j)(4) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c–1(j)(4) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting after Upon the direct request the following: , by mail or secure electronic means, ; (2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting after Upon the direct request the following: , by mail or secure electronic means, ; and (3) in subparagraph (C)— (A) by striking not later than— and inserting the not later than 3 days business days after receiving the request directly from the protected consumer or protected consumer’s representative.