Title 15 › CHAPTER 41 — CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION › SUBCHAPTER III — CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES › § 1681c–1
Requires credit reporting companies to put fraud alerts or special active-duty alerts on a person’s credit file when the person (or someone acting for them) asks and proves their identity. An initial alert lasts at least 1 year and lets you get a free copy of your file; an extended alert lasts 7 years and also gives you two free file copies in the first 12 months and stops you from being on certain marketing lists for 5 years; an active-duty alert lasts at least 12 months (or longer if the Bureau sets a rule) and stops you from being on those marketing lists for 2 years. When an alert is added, the company must tell the other major credit reporting companies, give required disclosures within 3 business days after a request, make it easy to request alerts (including by phone), and resellers and other agencies must pass along or explain how to get alerts. People can place a security freeze (which blocks most companies from getting your credit file) free of charge. Credit reporting companies must place the freeze within 1 business day if asked by phone or secure website, or within 3 business days if by mail, and must confirm it within 5 business days. You can remove or temporarily lift a freeze on request; by phone or secure website the company must lift it within 1 hour, or within 3 business days if by mail. Freezes don’t stop access by certain parties (for example your existing creditors, government agencies, child support, collectors, companies providing your own report, insurers, employers/tenant screeners, and identity-verification services). Credit reporting companies must have webpages to request freezes and alerts and allow an opt-out for solicitations; the FTC must host a central link page on IdentityTheft.gov. A “protected consumer” means someone under 16 or an incapacitated person, and special rules let a representative place or remove a freeze for them. Active-duty service members (including National Guard) can get free electronic credit monitoring if they prove military status and give contact info, and the FTC must write rules about that not later than 1 year after May 24, 2018.
Full Legal Text
Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 1681c–1
Title 15, Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110