Identity Theft Credit Block Demand Letter (FCRA § 605B Free Template)

[Your Full Name]
  [Address]
  [City, State ZIP]
  [Phone] [Email]
  [Last 4 of SSN: XXX-XX-____]  [Date of birth: __/__/____]

  [Date]

  [Equifax / Experian / TransUnion — Fraud / Identity Theft Department]
  [Bureau Address — see "How to use" for the current addresses]

  Sent via certified mail, return receipt requested

  Re: Request to BLOCK information resulting from identity theft under FCRA § 605B (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2) — Consumer [Your Full Name], file/report no. [if known]

  To the Identity Theft / Fraud Department:

  I am a victim of identity theft. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act § 605B, 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2, I am requesting that you BLOCK the information identified below from my credit file, because it resulted from identity theft and does not relate to any transaction made by me.

  This letter and its enclosures provide the four things the statute requires you to act on:

    1. Appropriate proof of my identity — [enclosed: copy of my government-issued photo ID; a utility bill or bank statement showing my current address; and the identifying information above].
    2. A copy of my identity theft report — [enclosed: my FTC Identity Theft Report from IdentityTheft.gov, report no. [____]; and, if filed, a copy of my police report no. [____] from the [Police Department], filed [date]].
    3. Identification of the information to be blocked — listed below, item by item.
    4. My statement, under penalty of the false-filing provisions of my identity theft report, that none of the information below relates to any transaction made by me.

  Information resulting from identity theft — BLOCK each of the following:

    • Account / tradeline: [Furnisher / creditor name], account no. [____], opened [date], balance $[amount]. I never opened or authorized this account.
    • Inquiry: [Company name], dated [date]. I never applied for credit with this company.
    • Collection item: [Collection agency], original creditor [name], amount $[amount]. This debt is not mine and arose from identity theft.
    • [Add every fraudulent account, inquiry, collection, or public record. Circle them on the enclosed copy of my credit report.]

  Legal basis:

    Block by the credit bureau — FCRA § 605B (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2). A consumer reporting agency "shall block the reporting of any information in the file of a consumer that the consumer identifies as information that resulted from an alleged identity theft, not later than 4 business days after the date of receipt" of (1) appropriate proof of identity, (2) a copy of an identity theft report, (3) the consumer's identification of the information, and (4) a statement that the information does not relate to any transaction by the consumer. § 605B(b) further requires you to "promptly notify the furnisher" that the information may be a result of identity theft, that an identity theft report has been filed, that a block has been requested, and the effective dates of the block. The four-business-day clock starts on your receipt of this letter and its enclosures.

    What an identity theft report is — FCRA § 603(q)(4) (15 U.S.C. § 1681a(q)(4)) and the FTC rule at 16 C.F.R. § 603.3. An identity theft report "alleges an identity theft with as much specificity as the consumer can provide" and is a copy of an official, valid report filed with a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency (the FTC Identity Theft Report from IdentityTheft.gov qualifies). I have provided that report. If you reasonably need additional documentation, 16 C.F.R. § 603.3(a)(3) requires you to request it within 15 days; I will supply it promptly. A blanket refusal to block without a timely, specific request is not authorized.

    Furnisher's duty to stop reporting — FCRA § 623(a)(6) (15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a)(6)). I am sending a copy of this letter to the furnisher named above. The furnisher must "have in place reasonable procedures to respond to" your § 605B notification "to prevent that person from refurnishing such blocked information," and, having received my identity theft report, "may not furnish such information that purports to relate to the consumer to any consumer reporting agency, unless the person subsequently knows or is informed by the consumer that the information is correct." It is not correct. Stop reporting it.

    My right to the fraud records — FCRA § 609(e) (15 U.S.C. § 1681g(e)). I am also entitled to obtain, without charge and within 30 days of request, the application and business transaction records evidencing the fraudulent accounts. [Include only if also writing the furnisher: I request those records now.]

  Demand:

    1. Within 4 business days of receipt, BLOCK each item listed above from my credit file under § 605B.
    2. Promptly notify each furnisher of the block, as § 605B(b) requires.
    3. Send me written confirmation of the block and an updated copy of my credit report reflecting the removed items.
    4. [To the furnisher:] Cease furnishing the blocked information to any consumer reporting agency under § 623(a)(6), and provide the § 609(e) business records within 30 days.

  You may decline or rescind a block only on the narrow grounds in § 605B(c) — that the block was made in error, that I made a material misrepresentation, or that I obtained goods, services, or money as a result of the blocked transaction. None applies here, and if you assert one you must notify me in writing and state which.

  Please direct all correspondence to me at the address above.

  Sincerely,

  [Your Signature]
  [Your Printed Name]

  Enclosures:
    • FTC Identity Theft Report (IdentityTheft.gov) [and police report, if filed]
    • Copy of government-issued photo ID
    • Proof of current address (utility bill / bank statement)
    • Copy of credit report with fraudulent items circled
    • [FTC Identity Theft Victim's Complaint and Affidavit, if used]