---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 1681c–2"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "1681c–2"
heading: "Block of information resulting from identity theft"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/1681c-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 41 — Consumer Credit Protection"
  - "Subchapter III — Credit Reporting Agencies"
---

# §1681c–2. Block of information resulting from identity theft

- (a) **Block—** Except as otherwise provided in this section, a [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) shall block the reporting of any information in the file of a [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) that the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) identifies as information that resulted from an alleged [identity theft](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-3), not later than 4 business days after the date of receipt by such agency of—
  - (1) appropriate proof of the identity of the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c);
  - (2) a copy of an [identity theft report](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-4);
  - (3) the identification of such information by the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c); and
  - (4) a statement by the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) that the information is not information relating to any transaction by the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c).
- (b) **Notification—** A [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) shall promptly notify the furnisher of information identified by the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) under [subsection (a)](#a)—
  - (1) that the information may be a result of [identity theft](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-3);
  - (2) that an [identity theft report](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-4) has been filed;
  - (3) that a block has been requested under this section; and
  - (4) of the effective dates of the block.
- (c) **Authority to decline or rescind—**
  - (1) **In general—** A [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) may decline to block, or may rescind any block, of information relating to a [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) under this section, if the [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) reasonably determines that—
    - (A) the information was blocked in error or a block was requested by the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) in error;
    - (B) the information was blocked, or a block was requested by the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c), on the basis of a material misrepresentation of fact by the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) relevant to the request to block; or
    - (C) the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) obtained possession of goods, services, or money as a result of the blocked transaction or transactions.
  - (2) **Notification to consumer—** If a block of information is declined or rescinded under this subsection, the affected [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) shall be notified promptly, in the same manner as [consumers](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) are notified of the reinsertion of information under [section 1681i(a)(5)(B) of this title](/usc/15/1681i.md?p=a-5-B).
  - (3) **Significance of block—** For purposes of this subsection, if a [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) rescinds a block, the presence of information in the file of a [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) prior to the blocking of such information is not evidence of whether the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) knew or should have known that the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) obtained possession of any goods, services, or money as a result of the block.
- (d) **Exception for resellers—**
  - (1) **No reseller file—** This section shall not apply to a [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f), if the [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f)—
    - (A) is a [reseller](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=u);
    - (B) is not, at the time of the request of the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) under [subsection (a)](#a), otherwise furnishing or reselling a [consumer report](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=d-1) concerning the information identified by the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c); and
    - (C) informs the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c), by any means, that the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) may report the [identity theft](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-3) to the [Bureau](/usc/15/1602.md?p=b) to obtain [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) information regarding [identity theft](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-3).
  - (2) **Reseller with file—** The sole obligation of the [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) under this section, with regard to any request of a [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) under this section, shall be to block the [consumer report](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=d-1) maintained by the [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) from any subsequent use, if—
    - (A) the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c), in accordance with the provisions of [subsection (a)](#a), identifies, to a [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f), information in the file of the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) that resulted from [identity theft](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-3); and
    - (B) the [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) is a [reseller](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=u) of the identified information.
  - (3) **Notice—** In carrying out its obligation under [paragraph (2)](#d-2), the [reseller](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=u) shall promptly provide a notice to the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) of the decision to block the file. Such notice shall contain the name, address, and telephone number of each [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) from which the [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) information was obtained for resale.
- (e) **Exception for verification companies—** The provisions of this section do not apply to a check services company, acting as such, which issues authorizations for the purpose of approving or processing negotiable instruments, [electronic fund transfers](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=r-4), or similar methods of payments, except that, beginning 4 business days after receipt of information described in paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) through [(3)](#a-3) of subsection (a), a check services company shall not report to a national [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) described in [section 1681a(p) of this title](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=p), any information identified in the subject [identity theft report](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-4) as resulting from [identity theft](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=q-3).
- (f) **Access to blocked information by law enforcement agencies—** No provision of this section shall be construed as requiring a [consumer reporting agency](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=f) to prevent a Federal, [State](/usc/15/1602.md?p=s), or local law enforcement agency from accessing blocked information in a [consumer](/usc/15/1681a.md?p=c) file to which the agency could otherwise obtain access under this subchapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–321, title VI, § 605B, as added Pub. L. 108–159, title I, § 152(a), Dec. 4, 2003, 117 Stat. 1964; amended Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1088(a)(2)(C), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2087.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (d)(1)(C). Pub. L. 111–203 substituted “the Bureau” for “the Commission”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 111–203 effective on the designated transfer date, see section 1100H of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 552a of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Effective Date

Section subject to joint regulations establishing effective dates as prescribed by Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission, except as otherwise provided, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–159, set out as an Effective Date of 2003 Amendment note under section 1681 of this title.