Identity theft on your credit report: what a Section 605B block request is

The law behind it

Section 605B of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2, is aimed at victims of identity theft. In general, it requires a credit bureau to block information that resulted from identity theft once you provide the required items, and to notify the company that reported it.

What you generally need to send

Proof of your identity, a copy of an identity theft report, the specific information you want blocked, and a statement that the information does not relate to any transaction you made or authorized. The Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov can help you create an FTC Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan.

Only for real identity theft

A block request is for information that resulted from identity theft. It is not a way to remove accurate accounts you simply want gone, and a false identity theft claim can have legal consequences. If an account is yours but reported wrongly, a regular dispute for inaccurate information is the better fit.

What happens next

The law requires a bureau to act promptly after it receives what it needs, and it can decline or later rescind a block in limited situations, in which case it must tell you. Nothing here guarantees a particular outcome, so keep copies of everything you send and mail it by certified mail with a return receipt.

You may also want to consider a fraud alert or credit freeze, which are separate free protections described on IdentityTheft.gov.