Credit is essential to have in life so you can obtain lines of credit from credit card companies, obtain an automobile loan, get a mortgage to purchase a home or even rent an apartment. Some jobs also require prospective employees to pass a credit check to secure a position.
Three agencies are responsible for keeping credit records. They keep a record of credit limits, on-time payments, delinquencies and the length of overall credit history. Lenders consult with these agencies before granting an individual credit to determine how much of a risk they are. These results determine how much money the lender gives, the term of the loan and how low the interest rate is.
Equifax is one of the three primary credit bureaus that keep a record of credit history and reports the FICO score to potential lenders.
Equifax was originally founded in 1899 by Retail Credit Company and was formed specifically as a database for American citizens and their credit.
This score is also known as the BEACON score and is as accurate and reliable as the Fair Isaac Method used when determining FICO score. Part of being a responsible consumer is keeping an eye on your report with all agencies. It’s possible that an inaccuracy such as a late payment, going over the credit limit or the wrong balance can be reported by any of the three agencies. A single error can cause a credit score to dive significantly and disqualify you from obtaining a loan at all or cause you to get a loan that is less than favorable for what your actual credit history should reflect.
You can get a copy of your credit report from Equifax if you have been denied credit any time in the past 60 days for any reason by calling their toll-free phone number at 1-800-685-1111.
They can also be contacted by mail if there are any discrepancies on the report at their Atlanta, GA office.
The address is:
Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
You can also file disputes online through their website at https://www.ai.equifax.com/CreditInvestigation/