How to Get Your Credit Report From Equifax

The quickest way to see your Equifax credit report is to create a free myEquifax account on the Equifax website. Your account includes six free Equifax reports each year, and you can also enroll in Equifax Core Credit from your dashboard to get a free report every day. If you’d rather not go online, you can request a copy by phone or by mail.

Another option is AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized site for free credit reports. Verify your identity, select Equifax from the list of bureaus, and you can view or download your report. Reports there are free every week.

How to get your Equifax credit report

You can obtain your Equifax credit report at no cost through three channels: directly from Equifax online, by submitting a request over the phone or by mail, or through AnnualCreditReport.com, where you can also access reports from Experian and TransUnion.

Request your Equifax credit report online

You can access your Equifax credit report for free by following these steps:

1. Go to Equifax's website. Visit Equifax's free credit report page to begin your request.
2. Choose the free credit report option. Follow the instructions to access your credit report without paying for a subscription or additional services.
3. Create an account or log in. New users will need to register, while existing customers can sign in to their Equifax accounts.
4. Confirm your identity. Enter the requested personal details and complete any identity verification steps to ensure your report is released to the correct person.
5. Access your credit report. Once verified, you can view your report online, including your credit accounts, payment history, balances and other credit information.

Take time to review your report for unfamiliar accounts, inaccurate balances, payment errors or other discrepancies that could hurt your credit score. Requesting your report won't hurt your credit score because checking your own credit is considered a soft inquiry.

Have your identification documents on hand. Equifax may request additional documentation if it can't verify your identity electronically. Having these documents readily available can help prevent delays:

*Proof of identity: Driver's license, state-issued ID or passport.
*Proof of Social Security number: Social Security card, W-2 or pay stub displaying your full SSN.
*Proof of address: Recent utility bill, bank statement, mortgage statement or lease agreement.

If Equifax requests supporting documents, you may need to provide copies. Follow its submission instructions carefully to ensure your documents are accepted.

Request your Equifax credit report by phone or mail

If you don't want to access your credit report online, Equifax also offers ways to request a free copy by phone or mail.

• By phone: Call Equifax at 1-888-378-4329 and follow the prompts to request assistance with your credit report. You may need to answer security questions or provide personal information to verify your identity.

• By mail: Visit Equifax's contact page, download the Credit Report request form and mail your completed form to the address provided. Equifax offers separate forms for adults, minors and incapacitated adults.

Mail and phone requests are generally slower than online requests. Allow up to 15 days for processing after your request is received, plus additional time for delivery.

Request your free annual credit report

You can also access your Equifax credit report for free through AnnualCreditReport.com, the federally authorized website for obtaining credit reports from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax.

To request your report:

1. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com. Select the option to request your free credit reports.
2. Enter your personal information. Provide your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number.
3. Choose Equifax. You can request a report from Equifax alone or select one, two or all three credit bureaus.
4. Verify your identity. Answer the security questions to confirm you're authorized to access the report.
5. View or download your report. Once your identity is verified, you can access your Equifax credit report online.

You can request free weekly online credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com.

Read more >> What is AnnualCreditReport.com

How to monitor your credit

Checking your Equifax credit report once is a good first step to monitoring your credit, but reviewing it regularly can help you spot reporting errors, recognize signs of identity theft and keep track of changes to your credit history.

Here are a few ways to monitor your credit:

• Review all three credit reports regularly. Check your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion reports for unfamiliar accounts, incorrect balances, missed payments or other inaccuracies. You can access free weekly reports through AnnualCreditReport.com.

• Use a credit monitoring service. Several free credit monitoring apps are available, along with paid services. Compare their features to find one that fits your needs and budget.

• Keep track of your credit score. Checking your score periodically can help you understand how your credit habits affect your overall credit health. Remember that scores can vary between bureaus and scoring models.

• Consider placing a fraud alert. If you suspect identity theft, you can request a fraud alert through Equifax. This encourages lenders to verify your identity before approving new credit applications. An initial fraud alert lasts one year and is free.

• Dispute errors on your Equifax report. If you find inaccurate or outdated information, file a dispute directly with Equifax so it can investigate and correct any verified errors.

Regularly reviewing your free reports and watching for unexpected changes can help you catch potential problems before they become bigger issues.

Some of your regular bills, like rent and utilities, don't typically get reported to credit bureaus. However, Kikoff offers tools to report on-time monthly activity and allows you to add positive rent payments to your credit profiles.

Bottom line

Getting your Equifax credit report is free, whether you access it online, by phone or through AnnualCreditReport.com. Check your report regularly for errors, unfamiliar accounts and suspicious activity so you can address potential problems before they affect your credit.

After reviewing your credit report from Equifax, you may find that your payment history needs a boost. If you want to position yourself as a more appealing borrower for lenders or strengthen your score, Kikoff can help. 

Our platform allows you to report on-time rent and utility payments to help build your score. Kikoff also offers free dispute and debt negotiation tools on eligible debts. Build credit responsibly with Kikoff's plans.