Sep 18 2008
Phone numbers for Equifax
Having trouble finding a phone number for Equifax? You are not alone.
As a former journalist, after using up all the tricks in my book, I finally succumbed and paid Equifax to provide it. More on that later. And – if you read to the bottom, I will tell you the numbers I finally found.
If you do a Google search for “Equifax phone number” you’ll find a zillion instances of their automated, no-human-around numbers. But you will also find hundreds of complaints from frustrated folks who want to talk to a real live human.
Wikipedia reports this with some incredulity:
The company has been fined by the Federal Trade Commission on two occasions for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act. In 2000, Equifax along with Experian and Trans Union were fined US$2.5 million for blocking and delaying phone calls from consumers trying to get information about their credit. In 2003, the FTC took Equifax to court for the same reason and settled its lawsuit with the company for a fine of US$250,000.[2] [3].
It appears that Equifax is still making it difficult to talk to them. On its official websites, both in the US and in Canada, there is no phone number provided that will get you to a live agent.
This is not the case with its main competitor, TransUnion – which provides it clearly and was answered in a few seconds by a helpful human named Crystal.
However, if you pay for a credit report from Equifax, and if you carefully examine all the fine print, some numbers do emerge. Alas, according to Wikipedia:
As of July 2007, Equifax form letters include a toll-free number, (888) 876-5796, that is no longer in service. Below this defunct phone number, the Equifax form letter informs customers that they “must call within 60 days” if they wish to dispute any information contained within the letter.[citation needed] As of February 2009, the form letters include the number 866-224-9235, however this number is no longer functional (as of March 12, 2009).
As of December 2007, the telephone number listed for disputing items on the free online credit report (866-233-4027) is also defunct, returning a “not in service” message when called.[citation needed]
It’s all rather annoying. However, using my cunning – now fortified with my frustration – I was able to speak to real live humans at these numbers:
In the US call: 1-800-203-7837
In Canada call: 1-866-204-9044 or 1-800-871-3250
Also, you could try this number which I did not try to verify: 1-877-323-2598
