Equifax is one of the three major credit bureaus in the United States, and it holds an enormous amount of financial and personal data on virtually every American adult. Unlike typical people-search sites, Equifax collects credit histories, payment records, employment data, and account information that lenders use to make credit decisions. While you cannot simply delete your credit file, there are several ways to limit how Equifax shares and sells your data.
What Data Does Equifax Hold?
Equifax maintains detailed financial profiles that go far beyond what a people-search site would display:
- Credit accounts: Every credit card, mortgage, auto loan, and line of credit reported by your lenders
- Payment history: On-time payments, late payments, defaults, and collections
- Credit inquiries: Records of who has pulled your credit report
- Public records: Bankruptcies and civil judgments
- Personal identifiers: Name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, employment history
- Marketing data: Equifax also sells consumer data segments for targeted marketing and pre-screened credit offers
Option 1: Opt Out of Pre-Screened Credit Offers
Those unsolicited credit card and insurance offers in your mailbox come from pre-screened lists that Equifax and the other bureaus sell to lenders. You can stop them:
- Visit OptOutPrescreen.com: Go to optoutprescreen.com, the official site run by the major credit bureaus.
- Choose your opt-out duration:
- 5-year electronic opt-out: Complete the online form for a 5-year removal from pre-screened offer lists
- Permanent opt-out: Download, print, and mail the Permanent Opt-Out Election form for lifetime removal
- Provide required information: You will need your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth.
Alternatively, call 1-888-567-8688 to opt out by phone. This covers all three credit bureaus at once.
Online Opt-Out Lasts 5 Years
The electronic opt-out through OptOutPrescreen.com lasts 5 years and must be renewed. For permanent removal from pre-screened offer lists, you must print and mail the permanent opt-out form. Mark your calendar to renew if you choose the 5-year option.
Option 2: Opt Out of Data Sharing and Sale
Equifax sells consumer data to marketers and other businesses beyond just credit-related purposes. To opt out of this data sharing:
- Visit the Equifax privacy portal: Go to myprivacy.equifax.com/opt-in-opt-out/personal-info.
- Fill out the form: Enter your name and address. You may optionally include your date of birth, Social Security number, email address, and phone number for more precise matching.
- Complete the CAPTCHA: Verify that you are a human.
- Submit the request: Your opt-out will be processed within 15 days.
Option 3: Stop Marketing Emails
To stop receiving marketing emails from Equifax:
- Visit: equifax.com/personal/my-privacy/ and follow the email opt-out instructions
- Use unsubscribe links: Click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any Equifax marketing email
Option 4: Remove Yourself from Marketing and Mailing Lists
For direct mail marketing lists specifically:
- By phone: Call 1-800-555-0199 and request removal from marketing lists
- By mail: Send a written request to Equifax, P.O. Box 1025, Atlanta, GA 30301. Include your full name, current address, and a statement requesting removal from all marketing lists.
Option 5: Freeze Your Credit (Highly Recommended)
A credit freeze is the single most effective step you can take to protect your financial identity. It prevents anyone from opening new credit accounts in your name.
- Online: Go to equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/ and follow the steps to place a freeze.
- By phone: Call (888) 298-0045 to request a freeze.
Credit freezes at Equifax are free and take effect immediately. You will receive a PIN that you can use to temporarily lift or permanently remove the freeze when you need to apply for credit.
Warning: Freeze All Three Bureaus
Freezing your credit at Equifax alone is not enough. Lenders may check your credit at Experian or TransUnion instead. You need to place a freeze at all three major bureaus for full protection. A freeze at one bureau does not affect the others, so each must be done separately.
Additional Contact Options
If you need to speak with someone directly about your privacy options:
- Phone opt-out line: 1-866-295-6801 (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time)
- General privacy inquiries: Visit the Equifax privacy page or write to their mailing address listed above
What These Opt-Outs Do and Do Not Cover
- You cannot delete your credit file. As long as you have active credit accounts, Equifax will maintain a credit report on you. Opt-outs cover marketing data sharing and pre-screened offers, not your core credit report.
- Creditors can still access your report. Existing creditors and those with a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act can still pull your report, even with a freeze in place.
- Opt-outs do not fix inaccurate data. If your credit report contains errors, you need to file a separate dispute through equifax.com/personal/disputes/.
- Some opt-outs require renewal. The online pre-screened opt-out expires after 5 years, and marketing preferences may need periodic refreshing.
Managing your privacy across the three credit bureaus and the broader data broker ecosystem is an ongoing task. PrivacyOn handles opt-outs across 100+ data brokers and people-search sites, complementing the credit bureau opt-outs you handle directly. Together, these steps significantly reduce the amount of personal data available about you online.