Why is this stronger than a § 1681i dispute?

A regular § 1681i dispute gives the CRA 30 days to investigate and the furnisher gets to verify. An identity-theft affidavit under § 1681c-2 forces a BLOCK within 4 business days — no investigation period. The blocked information stays blocked unless the CRA obtains 'specific evidence' under § 1681c-2(c) that the information was correctly attributed. The furnisher can no longer report the blocked tradeline without proof. This is the highest-leverage move in FCRA self-help.

Do I really need a police report?

Yes — or an FTC Identity Theft Report from IdentityTheft.gov. § 1681a(q)(4) defines 'identity theft report' as an official report filed with a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The FTC Identity Theft Report is widely accepted as satisfying this requirement. Without one, the CRA can refuse the block. File at least one before sending this Affidavit.

What if the CRA refuses the block?

Wrongful refusal of a § 1681c-2 block is itself a violation. Document everything (the affidavit you sent, the supporting documents, the certified-mail green card, the CRA's response or non-response), then sue under §§ 1681n (willful) / 1681o (negligent). Use the FCRA federal-complaint wizard. CRAs are repeat offenders here — willful damages stack quickly.

What about debt collectors who keep collecting?

Once the CRA notifies the furnisher of the block, the furnisher must comply with § 1681s-2(a)(6) — which requires the furnisher to STOP reporting the disputed item AND to notify any debt collector to whom the alleged debt was assigned that the debt is the result of identity theft. A debt collector who continues to collect after notice violates § 1681s-2 AND § 1692e(8) of the FDCPA (false representation that the debt is owed).

Will this stop active collection lawsuits?

It can. If you're already being sued on a fraudulent debt, the identity-theft affidavit + police/FTC report becomes powerful evidence. File a Motion to Dismiss (or Answer with the affirmative defense of identity theft) attaching the affidavit. Many courts dismiss with prejudice when the defendant produces a contemporaneous police report and identity-theft affidavit.

How do I know what tradelines are fraudulent?

Pull all three credit reports (free at AnnualCreditReport.com). Compare every account to your records. Anything you don't recognize — credit cards you didn't open, accounts in your name but at addresses you've never lived at, balances you didn't accumulate — is potentially fraudulent. Make a list with creditor name + last 4 of account + approximate date + balance.

Credit overview

Identity theft affidavit

Force the block in 4 business days.

FCRA § 1681c-2 requires a CRA to BLOCK any identified fraudulent tradeline within 4 business days of receiving a valid identity-theft report. Far stronger than a regular § 1681i dispute — no investigation period, no “verified” runaround. The wizard builds the court-ready Affidavit — free.

File a police OR FTC report FIRST.The FCRA § 1681c-2 BLOCK remedy requires a valid "identity theft report" — a copy of an official report filed with police OR the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. File the report first, then attach the report to this Affidavit. Without it the CRA can refuse the block.

1You
2Bureau + fraud
3Reports filed
4Generate

Your full legal name *

Street address *

City, State, ZIP *

Phone (optional)

Email (optional)

Date of birth (optional)

Last 4 digits of SSN (NEVER provide full SSN here)

Provide only the last 4 digits of your SSN — never your full SSN in any document. The CRA already has your full SSN on file and matches you by other identifiers + the last 4.

State of execution (28 USC § 1746)

Companion tool

FCRA dispute letter — free

For inaccuracies that aren’t the result of identity theft. Slower (30-day investigation) but no police report required.

Open dispute wizard

If they refuse the block

FCRA federal complaint — free

Wrongful refusal of a § 1681c-2 block is its own violation. Sue in U.S. District Court for willful damages + punitive + mandatory fees.

Open federal complaint wizard