When this letter applies
A 605B block request is specific to identity theft. It asks a consumer reporting agency to block information—accounts, inquiries, or personal details—that appears on your file because someone else used your identity.
If you recognize an account and are challenging its balance, status, or other details, that is a standard accuracy dispute under FCRA Section 611, not a 605B request. Using 605B for items that are actually yours can undermine your credibility and the request itself.
What to gather before you send it
Agencies evaluate the packet you send, so completeness matters. Section 605B lists four elements of a complete block request:
- An identity theft report (most consumers use the FTC Identity Theft Report from IdentityTheft.gov; some agencies may also ask for a law-enforcement report)
- Proof of your identity (for example, a government-issued ID)
- A specific identification of each item you are asking the agency to block
- Your statement that the information does not relate to any transaction you made or authorized — the sample letter below includes this language
The sample letter
[Your full name] [Your mailing address] [City, State ZIP] [Date] [Consumer reporting agency name — Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion] [The dispute mailing address currently published on that agency's website] Re: Request to block information under FCRA Section 605B (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2) To whom it may concern: I am a victim of identity theft. Under Section 605B of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I request that you block the following information from my consumer file. Each item below resulted from identity theft and does not relate to any transaction I made or authorized: 1. [Creditor or furnisher name] — account ending in [last 4 digits] — first reported [date, if known] 2. [Company name] — hard inquiry dated [date] 3. [Any personal information appearing on my file as a result of the theft — for example, an address or employer that is not mine] Enclosed with this request are copies of: - My identity theft report [FTC Identity Theft Report and/or law-enforcement report] - Proof of my identity: [government-issued ID] - Proof of my address: [utility bill, bank statement, or similar] Section 605B directs consumer reporting agencies to block identified information within 4 business days of receiving a complete request and to promptly notify the furnishers of that information. Please confirm the block in writing and send me an updated copy of my consumer report. If you decline to block any item, please state the specific reason in writing. Sincerely, [Signature] [Printed name] [Last 4 digits of SSN: xxxx] · [Date of birth: mm/dd/yyyy] Enclosures: [list each enclosed document]
How to fill it in
Send a separate letter to each consumer reporting agency, and list only the items that appear on that agency’s report. Identify every item precisely—creditor or furnisher name, partial account number, and dates where you have them—so the agency can match each item to your file.
Keep the tone factual. State what resulted from identity theft, what you are enclosing, and what you are asking the agency to do. Unsupported accusations or emotional language do not strengthen a request.
Where and how to send it
Use the dispute mailing address each agency currently publishes on its own website—addresses change, and mailing to an outdated address delays review. Many consumers send 605B requests by certified mail with return receipt so there is independent proof of what was sent and when it was received.
What happens after you send it
Section 605B directs consumer reporting agencies to block identified information within 4 business days of receiving a complete request and to promptly notify the furnishers of that information. In practice, timing depends on when the agency treats your request as complete, so incomplete packets are a common source of delay.
Agencies may also decline or rescind a block in circumstances the statute describes—for example, if they determine the information was blocked in error or that the consumer obtained goods or services as part of the transaction. If a request is declined, the response should explain why, and a CFPB complaint is one documented escalation path.
How 605b.ai helps
605b.ai is self-service software. It helps you analyze your reports, identify items to list in a letter like this one, organize the supporting documentation, and track deadlines and responses—you review everything and send it yourself. It does not provide legal advice or act on your behalf.
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Prepare your identity theft dispute packet with organized report findings and documentation.
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