Equifax Phone Number: Contact Equifax Customer Service (2026)
Updated
Equifax is one of the three major credit bureaus in the United States. Here’s how to contact Equifax for credit reports, disputes, freezes, and other services.
Equifax maintains credit records on over 220 million American consumers. They’re perhaps best known for the 2017 data breach that exposed sensitive information for 147 million people—if you were affected, you may still be eligible for settlement benefits. Beyond that history, Equifax remains a critical gatekeeper for your credit score and financial reputation. Here’s how to reach them for any issue.
Equifax Phone Numbers
Main Customer Service Lines
Service
Phone Number
Hours (ET)
General Customer Service
1-800-685-1111
M-F 9AM-8PM
Disputes
1-800-685-1111
M-F 9AM-8PM
Credit Freeze/Unfreeze
1-800-349-9960
24/7 automated
Fraud Alerts
1-800-525-6285
24/7 automated
Credit Report Requests
1-800-685-1111
M-F 9AM-8PM
Specialized Equifax Lines
Service
Phone Number
Hours
Identity Theft Assistance
1-888-766-0008
M-F 9AM-9PM ET
Security Freeze Team
1-800-349-9960
24/7
Equifax Lock & Alert
1-800-349-9960
24/7
Business Credit
1-800-727-8495
M-F 8AM-5PM ET
Verification Services
1-800-367-5690
Varies
Data Breach Settlement
1-833-759-2979
M-F 9AM-9PM ET
Free Annual Credit Report
Contact
Information
Phone
1-877-322-8228
Website
AnnualCreditReport.com
How to Reach a Live Person at Equifax
Equifax’s phone system requires patience, but knowing the right steps gets you to an agent faster. Plan for 10-30 minutes of total call time during off-peak hours.
Step-by-Step Phone Navigation
Step
Action
1
Call 1-800-685-1111
2
Press 3 for existing products/services
3
Press 1 for questions
4
Stay on the line — do not press any more buttons
5
Wait for agent
Alternative path: Say “representative” or “customer service” at prompts
Best Times to Call Equifax
Time (ET)
Expected Wait
Tuesday-Thursday 9-10 AM
10-20 minutes
Wednesday afternoon
10-25 minutes
Monday morning
30-45 minutes
Friday afternoon
20-35 minutes
After 5 PM
Often shorter
What to Have Ready
Document
Purpose
Full legal name
Verification
Social Security Number
Account lookup
Date of birth
Identity confirmation
Current address
Verification
Previous addresses
If recently moved
Credit report copy
For dispute details
Equifax Contact Options Beyond Phone
For many tasks, Equifax’s online tools are faster than calling. You can check your credit score for free through various services, dispute errors, and manage credit freezes without waiting on hold.
Equifax Website
Task
URL
Create account
equifax.com
View credit report
Sign in → My Account
Dispute online
equifax.com/personal/disputes
Credit freeze
equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
Lock & Alert
equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
Equifax Mobile App
Feature
What You Can Do
View credit score
VantageScore 3.0
Credit monitoring
Alerts for changes
Lock/Unlock credit
Instant (Lock & Alert)
File disputes
Mobile dispute process
View report
Full credit report
Mail
General Correspondence:
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374
Disputes:
Equifax Information Services LLC
P.O. Box 740256
Atlanta, GA 30374-0256
Whether you’re reviewing your credit before applying for a mortgage, disputing an error, or freezing your credit after a breach, here’s how to handle common Equifax tasks efficiently.
Get Your Credit Report
Method
Details
Online
equifax.com (free score, paid full report)
Free annual report
AnnualCreditReport.com
Phone
1-800-685-1111
Mail
Write to P.O. Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374
Dispute an Error
Method
Processing Time
Online
15-30 days
Phone
30-45 days
Mail
30-45 days
Online is fastest: equifax.com/personal/disputes
What You Can Dispute
You can dispute any information that’s inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable. Common disputes include accounts that aren’t yours, incorrect balances, wrong payment history, and items that should have aged off your report.
Disputable Item
Examples
Incorrect personal info
Wrong name, SSN, birth date
Accounts not yours
Fraudulent or mixed-file accounts
Wrong account status
Showing open when closed
Incorrect payment history
Late payments that were on time
Wrong balance
Incorrect amount owed
Duplicate accounts
Same account listed twice
Items older than 7 years
Should be removed
Freeze Your Credit
Method
Speed
Online (equifax.com)
Instant
Phone (1-800-349-9960)
Automated, minutes
Mail
3-5 business days
When you freeze:
Receive a PIN — keep it safe
Must freeze at all 3 bureaus separately
Free by federal law
Unfreeze Your Credit
Method
Speed
Online
Within 1 hour (usually minutes)
Phone (automated)
Within 1 hour
Phone (agent)
Up to 3 business days
Mail
Up to 3 business days
Options:
Temporary lift (for specific lender or period)
Permanent removal
Place a Fraud Alert
Type
Duration
How to Place
Initial
1 year
1-800-525-6285 or online
Extended
7 years
Need FTC Identity Theft Report
Active duty
1 year
For military personnel
You only need to contact ONE bureau. Equifax must notify Experian and TransUnion.
Equifax Lock & Alert
Equifax offers both a traditional credit freeze and their Lock & Alert service. While a freeze has federal legal protection, Lock & Alert offers more convenience. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right credit protection approach for your needs.
Freeze vs. Lock
Feature
Freeze
Lock & Alert
Cost
Free
Free basic tier
Speed to unlock
Minutes-3 days
Instant via app
Legal protection
Yes (FCRA)
No federal law
PIN required
Yes
App-based
Best for
Maximum security
Convenience
How to Use Lock & Alert
Step
Action
1
Create Equifax account
2
Enroll in Lock & Alert
3
Toggle lock on/off via app or web
4
No PIN needed — just your login
Equifax Products and Services
Free Services
Service
What It Includes
Free credit report
Once per year via AnnualCreditReport.com
Lock & Alert (basic)
Free locking feature
Fraud alerts
Free to place
Credit freeze
Free by law
Paid Subscriptions
Product
Cost
Features
Equifax Core Credit
Free
Basic score and report
Equifax Complete
~$19.95/mo
3-bureau reports, monitoring
Equifax ID Patrol
~$16.95/mo
Identity monitoring
Equifax Family Plan
~$29.95/mo
Up to 4 adults
Cancel Equifax Subscription
Method
How
Phone
1-800-685-1111
Online
My Account → Subscriptions
In writing
Mail cancellation to P.O. Box 740256
2017 Data Breach Settlement
The massive 2017 Equifax breach affected approximately 147 million people—nearly half the U.S. population. If you were affected, you may be entitled to free credit monitoring, cash payments, and identity restoration services.
Check if You Were Affected
Method
How
Website
equifaxbreachsettlement.com
Phone
1-833-759-2979
Settlement Benefits (if eligible)
Benefit
Details
Free credit monitoring
Through settlement
Cash payment
Up to $125 (conditions apply)
Identity restoration
If affected
Reimbursement
For time spent dealing with breach
Identity Theft with Equifax
If you’ve become a victim of identity theft, act quickly. Placing fraud alerts and credit freezes can prevent further damage to your credit score and financial accounts.
If You’re a Victim
Step
Action
1
Place fraud alert: 1-800-525-6285
2
Freeze credit: 1-800-349-9960
3
Get credit reports from all bureaus
4
Review for fraudulent accounts
5
Dispute fraudulent items
6
File report at IdentityTheft.gov
7
Consider extended fraud alert (7 years)
Identity Theft Assistance Line
Contact
Information
Phone
1-888-766-0008
Hours
M-F 9AM-9PM ET
Purpose
Help for confirmed ID theft victims
If Equifax Doesn’t Resolve Your Issue
Escalation Options
Step
Action
1
Re-dispute with additional documentation
2
Send dispute by certified mail
3
Add consumer statement (100 words)
4
Contact the furnisher directly
5
File CFPB complaint
6
Consult consumer law attorney
CFPB Complaint
Contact
Details
Website
consumerfinance.gov/complaint
Phone
1-855-411-2372
Response time
15 days from Equifax
CFPB complaints are taken seriously — bureaus often respond more quickly.
Consumer Statement
If a dispute isn’t resolved in your favor, you can add a 100-word explanation to your credit report.
Equifax Corporate Contact
For unresolved issues or executive complaints:
Equifax Inc.
1550 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30309