The Equifax Credit Report Bureau
Your Equifax credit report contains information on how you have met your financial obligations. Only businesses and individuals who have a legitimate reason may request your credit report, unless you provide a written statement otherwise. You also have the option of receiving a copy of your credit report for your own personal use.
Getting Your Equifax Credit Report
All U.S. individuals may request up to 6 free copies of their Equifax credit report annually. This is due in part to the 2019 data breach settlement Equifax reached with the FTC, the CFPB, and the states over a data breach that occurred in 2017. These free credit reports will be available through 2026. To access your free credit reports, you'll need to establish a MyEquifax account (see the section on disputing errors below to find out how). You can also find out more about how to receive your online credit report at Equifax.
If you don't want to access your credit report online, you can request it by mail. You will need to provide the following information: Full name (including Jr., Sr., etc), Social Security Number, current and previous addresses within the last 5 years, date of birth, home telephone number, and signature. You can call or write for your credit report at:
Equifax Inc.
P.O. Box 105139
Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5139
(866-349-5191)
You can also receive your free Equifax credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com. This site was established by the Federal Government in response to the FACT Act to provide individuals free annual access to their credit report from each of the 3 credit bureaus. You can find out more about how to access your free credit report on our FACT Act page.
Equifax Credit Scores and Credit Monitoring
If you are considering making a major purchase, such as a home or car, it pays to know what your credit score is before you apply for a loan. A person's credit score is a major determining factor in qualifying for a loan (both the amount of the loan you qualify for and the rate you receive). When you order your credit score from Equifax, you'll get online access to both your score and other tools. Also included is a credit score estimator (which lets you see what actions will affect your credit score) so you can make wise choices in paying off your debts.
Credit Monitoring
In today's fast-paced world, it can be hard to stay on top of everything. Equifax has developed a credit monitoring program that keeps track of your credit record. This can help stop potential identity theft by alerting you whenever a credit account is opened in your name.
They will send you an email notification within 24 hours of changes posted to the credit profile, providing an online history of all notifications and reports by date and the ability to dispute inaccurate information in your report online as well. They also have a toll-free dedicated customer service hotline. With this monitoring plan, you'll also be able to access your credit score anytime you want so you can track how it changes over time. Protect yourself, your reputation and your credit with credit monitoring.
You can find out more about how to receive your credit score or sign up for credit monitoring on the Equifax website.
Disputing Errors on Your Equifax Credit Report
If you notice errors on your credit report, you can take steps to correct the information. To help you get started, read through our information on what can be disputed on your credit report and how the process works.
If you need to dispute any information contained on your Equifax credit report, you can begin the online dispute process by creating a myEquifax account.
If you received your credit report through the mail, you can also call the toll free number listed on your report and they will walk you through the dispute process. Additionally, you can dispute errors by mail by sending your dispute documentation to:
Equifax Information Services, LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
Opt Out of Preapproved Credit Offers
Credit bureaus provide information to potential creditors who offer pre-approved credit. If you prefer not to receive such offers, you can call 1-888-5 OPT OUT (1-888-567-8688) or ask the Equifax credit report company to remove you from their direct marketing list. You can send your request to:
Equifax Information Services, LLC
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
Include your complete name, full address, Social Security number, and signature. The Equifax credit report bureau will remove your name from "pre-approved credit card orders," and share your request with the other two major credit reporting agencies.
Below, you can find other relevant information on credit bureaus:
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