What Is Equifax?

Equifax is one of the three nationwide credit bureaus that collect, store, and sell your financial history, creating the Equifax credit report and the associated credit score that lenders, landlords, and insurers use to assess risk.

Because the report includes personal identifiers, loan balances, and payment behavior, every major credit decision may hinge on the information Equifax holds, and the 2017 breach that exposed data of 147 million people 2017 Equifax data breach details showed how vulnerable that data can be.

You should care because errors, outdated information, or unauthorized inquiries on your Equifax credit report can raise your interest rates, delay approvals, or even affect employment prospects; understanding how the bureau works lets you monitor your report, dispute mistakes, and use tools like a credit freeze - topics we'll explore in the next sections.

Equifax gathers the personal and financial details that populate your Equifax credit report. Those data points enable lenders to calculate your credit score and let you request a credit freeze.

• Full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, current and past addresses, and phone numbers.
• Employment information, including employer name, job title, and dates of employment.
• Credit account details such as account type (credit card, mortgage, auto loan), account numbers, opening dates, credit limits or original loan amounts, and current balances.
• Payment history, covering on‑time payments, late payments, charge‑offs, and any recorded delinquencies.
• Public records and collection items, including bankruptcies, tax liens, civil judgments, and debt‑collection accounts.

For a complete list, see what information Equifax collects for your credit report.

Equifax builds your credit profile by gathering, updating, and weighting financial data from dozens of sources. These sources expand on the personal data Equifax stores, which we discussed earlier.

1. Collect identifying information and public records - your name, address, Social Security number, bankruptcies, tax liens, and court judgments.
2. Receive tradeline data from lenders - account type, open date, credit limit, current balance, and payment history. Updates arrive at least monthly.
3. Log credit inquiries - hard pulls from loan applications and soft pulls from pre‑approval checks, indicating recent credit activity.
4. Add collection and charge‑off details - accounts sold to collection agencies, amounts owed, and dates of status changes.
5. Apply scoring algorithms - Equifax uses FICO® and VantageScore® models, which assign weights to payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit, and credit mix. (how credit scores are calculated)
6. Generate the Equifax credit report and calculate your credit score - the report lists every tradeline and public record; the score converts that data into the three‑digit number lenders review.

Lenders pull your Equifax credit report to decide if they'll approve you, what interest rate they'll offer, and how much credit they'll extend. They scan the same data you saw in the 'how Equifax builds your credit profile' section, then feed it into risk models that score you for a specific product.

• Credit score - the numerical summary of your report; higher scores usually earn better rates.
• Payment history - on‑time payments boost confidence; missed or late payments trigger higher risk flags.
• Credit utilization - balances near the credit limit suggest strain, so lenders prefer utilization below 30 %.
• Length of credit history - longer active accounts show stability; new accounts may raise caution.
• Mix of credit types - a blend of revolving, installment, and mortgage accounts can improve the view, while a single type may limit it.
• Recent inquiries - many hard pulls in a short period signal shopping for credit and can lower approval odds.
• Public records and collections - bankruptcies, tax liens, or collection accounts are major red flags that often lead to denial or higher rates.
• Fraud alerts or credit freeze status - if you've placed a credit freeze, lenders cannot access the report until you lift it, which pauses the decision process.

Your Equifax credit score is a three‑digit number that reflects how lenders view your creditworthiness, and you can read it on your online dashboard or monthly statement.

Interpretation basics:

• 300  -  629 - Very risky; most lenders will either reject your application or demand very high interest rates.
• 630  -  689 - Fair; you may qualify for some credit, but terms will be less favorable than those offered to higher scores.
• 690  -  749 - Good; you are likely to receive standard interest rates and wider credit options.
• 750  -  799 - Very good; lenders view you as a low‑risk borrower, giving you access to premium products and lower rates.
• 800  -  850 - Excellent; you enjoy the best rates and most flexible credit terms available.

What drives the number?

As explained in 'how Equifax builds your credit profile,' payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, recent inquiries, and mix of accounts each contribute a percentage weight. A recent missed payment can drop the score by 30 - 100 points, while lowering utilization from 45 % to 20 % often adds 20 - 40 points.

If you see a sudden shift, compare the change to recent activity in your Equifax credit report - new hard inquiries, a closed account, or a reporting error could be the cause. For detailed guidance on how each factor affects your score, see Understanding your Equifax credit score.

Now that you know how to read and interpret the score, you're ready to pull your full Equifax credit report and verify the data behind the number.

You can check your Equifax credit report now by visiting the Equifax website, creating a secure account, and completing the identity‑verification steps. After you log in, the portal displays the latest report within minutes.

The report lists your personal information, every credit account, payment history, recent inquiries, and any public records such as bankruptcies or tax liens. You can view each section online or download a PDF for offline review.

With the report in hand, you'll know whether to dispute errors or apply for a credit freeze, topics we explore in the following sections. Get started at Get your Equifax credit report.

Dispute errors on your Equifax credit report by collecting proof, submitting a formal challenge, and confirming the update.

1. Get the latest report - Log in to Equifax's dispute portal or request a free copy by mail. Review every line before you begin.
2. Mark the inaccurate items - Note the account name, entry date, and why it's wrong (e.g., wrong balance, duplicated inquiry, outdated delinquency).
3. Gather supporting documents - Pull statements, payment confirmations, or court orders that prove the correct information. Keep originals and make clear photocopies.
4. File the dispute -
   • Online - Use the portal's step‑by‑step wizard; upload PDFs and write a concise explanation.
   • Phone - Call 1‑800‑Equifax (1‑800‑378‑4329) and request a written confirmation of your claim.
   • Mail - Send a letter to Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348. Include your full name, Social Security number, a copy of the report with circled errors, and the supporting documents. Certified mail gives a receipt.
5. Ask for a status update - Equifax must investigate within 30 days. Use the online dashboard or call to confirm the review is underway.
6. Check the results - When the investigation closes, Equifax sends a written notice and an updated report. Verify that the disputed entry is corrected or removed.
7. Escalate if needed - If the error remains, file a second dispute citing the previous outcome and attach any new evidence. You may also contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or consider a legal notice under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
8. Document everything - Keep copies of every correspondence, receipt, and the final corrected report. Those records help if you later need to dispute a lender's decision or pursue damages.

Following these steps ensures that any mistake on your Equifax credit report is addressed promptly, protecting your credit score and preparing you for the next sections on credit freezes and post‑breach recovery.

Placing a credit freeze on your Equifax credit report takes three quick actions. Go to the Equifax Freeze portal, log in or create a MyEquifax account, then enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and current address. Choose 'freeze' and set a personal PIN; Equifax will confirm the freeze within minutes and send you a confirmation letter. You can also call 1‑800‑349‑9960 or mail the freeze request using the same details, but the online method is fastest and gives you an instant PIN for future changes.

Lifting the freeze works the same way. Sign in to the same portal, enter your PIN, and select 'thaw' - either temporarily for a specific creditor or permanently. If you call, provide the PIN and the dates you need the freeze lifted; if you mail, include a signed copy of your PIN and the lift dates. After you lift the freeze, your Equifax credit report becomes searchable again, allowing lenders to issue new credit. For step‑by‑step instructions, see the official freeze or lift your Equifax credit report guide.

If your personal information was exposed in the 2017 Equifax breach, you can begin repairing your credit profile today.

Immediate actions

• Place a credit freeze on your Equifax file; this blocks new accounts until you lift it.
• Enroll in free credit‑monitoring offered by Equifax or a trusted third‑party service.
• Review your latest Equifax credit report for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries.
• Dispute any fraudulent entries using the process described in the 'dispute errors on your Equifax report' section.
• Change passwords on all financial sites and enable two‑factor authentication.
• Register with the Federal Trade Commission's identity‑theft recovery portal (FTC identity theft resource) and follow its step‑by‑step plan.
• Set up fraud alerts with the other major bureaus; an alert flags your file for lenders and may prompt extra verification.
• Keep copies of all correspondence, dates, and reference numbers for future disputes.

Take these steps now, because early protection reduces the chance that the breach will damage your Equifax credit score or future lending opportunities.

Equifax's paid suite bundles daily credit‑monitoring alerts, identity‑theft protection and a 24‑hour credit‑freeze lock, while free services give you a basic Equifax credit report and score without the extra safeguards.

With a subscription such as Equifax CreditWorks, you pay roughly $20 per month for real‑time updates to your Equifax credit score, automated fraud alerts, and the ability to freeze or lock your file online instantly; the plan also includes identity‑theft insurance that may cover losses up to $1 million.

Free alternatives like Credit Karma let you view a free VantageScore derived from your Equifax data, receive email notices of new hard inquiries, and monitor public‑record changes, but they do not let you place a credit freeze, nor do they provide insurance or premium dispute assistance.

Your legal rights against Equifax after harm include suing for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), demanding a free copy of your Equifax credit report, requesting a credit freeze, and filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Those rights also cover a chance to receive credit‑monitoring services if a data breach, such as the 2017 incident that exposed about 147 million records, caused identity‑theft risk.

You can file a statutory‑damage lawsuit when Equifax's negligence leads to inaccurate information on your Equifax credit report or when a breach exposes your personal data. Many consumers have successfully claimed compensation for lost wages, legal fees, and emotional distress.

You may also request a free credit freeze to block new accounts, an option that the FTC highlights as a simple, zero‑cost protection tool (Protecting your credit). If you suspect fraud after the breach, enroll in the free year of credit‑monitoring Equifax offered to affected individuals and keep records of any unauthorized charges. Finally, you can join or initiate a class‑action suit; the 2017 settlement resulted in a $700 million fund for eligible claimants, illustrating how collective legal action can provide restitution when individual claims are impractical.