HOW TO USE EQUIFAX TO GET A FREE CREDIT REPORT
Whether you want a copy of your credit report to check for identity theft or to try to find errors to improve your credit score, you can receive a free credit report through Equifax.
Equifax serves as one of the United States of America’s nationwide consumer reporting companies along with Experian and TransUnion. Every twelve months, you are eligible to receive one free credit report from each company under the Free File Disclosure Rule of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act). All three companies now use the same website and toll-free number for credit report requests. When you place your request, you will be able to specify that you want your report from Equifax.
You may apply for your free credit report from Equifax in one of three ways. You may apply online at www.annualcreditreport.com, call the toll-free phone number at 1-877-322-8228, or print the Annual Credit Report Request Form and send it by regular mail to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5281. The website can only be accessed from internet service providers located within the United States, so if you are an American currently abroad, you will need to use one of the other methods to request your report.
When applying for your free credit report from Equifax, you need to be prepared to provide certain information, such as your name, physical address, date of birth, and Social Security number. For security reasons, if you have moved within the last two years, you may also be asked for your previous addresses. In addition, to protect your privacy and identity, Equifax may ask you for personal information that only you are likely to know: for example, the amount of your mortgage payment. This helps them verify that you are who you say you are.
As with any process where you have to include private information, you should be careful of scams and people trying to steal your identity. None of the consumer reporting companies will send you an email requesting information. If you receive an email claiming to be from them, do not open it, reply to it, or click on any links it contains. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. They also will not call you first to request information. They don’t use pop-up ads.
Once Equifax receives your request, they will process it in approximately fifteen days or less and mail your credit report to the address you provided.