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ID Patrol FAQs

I do not have credit files at Experian or TransUnion. Will I be able to purchase Equifax ID Patrol™ or Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring?

If we cannot locate your credit file at Experian or TransUnion, then you will not be able to purchase Equifax ID Patrol™ or Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring. However, if Equifax has a credit file on you, then we recommend that you consider a subscription to Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold in order to obtain a level of identity theft protection. You have the option to add Equifax Credit Report Control and Equifax WebDetect to your Credit Watch Gold subscription.

If I have a 90-day fraud alert set on my credit file, why do I need credit monitoring?

Having a 90-day fraud alert placed on your credit file is one of the first things you should do if you suspect that you may be a victim of fraud, including identity theft. This alert requires that recipients of your credit file follow certain procedures to verify your identity in connection with requests for new credit accounts, increasing credit on an existing account, or issuance of a new card on an existing account.

However, fraud alerts are only a start in taking steps to protect your credit when you suspect you may be a victim of identity theft. You also need to pay close attention to your credit report to make sure that there no inquiries for new credit or new credit accounts being opened that you do not recognize.

That is why we recommend that you monitor your credit file with Equifax ID Patrol or Equifax Credit Watch™. For as little as $9.95 per month, you can receive alerts about key changes to your Equifax credit file so that you know what new activity is being reported.

I received a credit file alert from one or two of the credit reporting agencies, but not all three. Why did this occur?

There may be multiple reasons why this occurred. Creditors, lenders, and other entities do not always report to each credit reporting company on the same schedule. Therefore, you may receive the same alert from each agency, but with a lapse of time between each one. In addition, not all creditors, lenders, and entities report to all three agencies. As a result you may not get an alert from each credit reporting company.

Why should I purchase Equifax ID Patrol¿?

Equifax ID Patrol¿ is our most effective solution to help you detect and prevent identity theft. In addition to the comprehensive credit monitoring offered with 3-in-1 Monitoring, ID Patrol includes the ability to lock and unlock your Equifax credit file with Equifax Credit Report Control™ and email alerts when your personal information is found on the internet using Equifax WebDetect™.

Why should I purchase Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring?

Your credit file at each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies may be slightly different. This is because creditors, lenders, and other entities may not always report their information to each agency and they often request a report from only one agency when processing an application for credit. As a result, you could have changes occurring on one file and not the other two. With comprehensive monitoring, such as Equifax Credit Watch Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring, you get peace of mind in knowing that if any changes are made to your credit file at any of the three nationwide agencies, you will be notified. Acquiring a comprehensive monitoring solution is the best way to stay on the lookout for identity theft.

What are the Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold Family Program and Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring Family Program?

The Equifax Credit Watch Gold Family Program and Equifax Credit Watch Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring Family Program provide customers who have purchased 12 months of Equifax Credit Watch Gold or Equifax Credit Watch Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring with the ability to purchase 12 months of Equifax Credit Watch Gold or Equifax Credit Watch Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring for up to ten family members at a discount.

How long is the Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold Family Program or Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring Family Program promotional code valid?

Equifax Credit Watch Gold Family Program promotional code is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. If the promotional code is not used within 12 months from the date of purchase, the product code will expire. Once the family member enrolls, they will receive Equifax Credit Watch Gold or Equifax Credit Watch Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring for 12 months.

I do not have files at Experian or TransUnion. Will I be able to purchase Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring Family Program?

If we cannot locate your credit file at Experian or TransUnion, then you will not be able to purchase Equifax Credit Watch Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring Family Program. However, if Equifax has a credit file on you, then we recommend that you consider a subscription to Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold and purchasing the Equifax Credit Watch Gold Family Program for your family members in order to obtain a level of identity theft protection.

How do I send Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold or Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring to my family members?

Once you purchase Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold or Equifax Credit Watch Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring, it is easy to send the product to your family members. After your purchase is confirmed, simply click on the “Send to Family Member” button, and enter your family member’s email address. You may also do this in the Member Center. We will then email each family member an Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold gift certificate with a promotional code and a link to the Equifax Website registration page. If you prefer to print a certificate for your family member, click on the “Print Certificate” button on the send to family member page.

If you would like to send Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring to your family members, simply follow the process outlined above but look for identifying information for Equifax Credit Watch&trade Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring.

I have Equifax Credit Watch™ Silver, can I upgrade to Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold?

Yes, you can upgrade your existing Credit Watch product by logging in to the Member Center. From the Member Center and under available products, look for the Credit Watch product you would like to upgrade to and select the order now button. Once you complete the order process, your product will be automatically upgraded based on your selection. Or you may contact Customer Support to assist you in upgrading your existing product. Click here for our Customer Support contact information.

My credit card is going to expire and my subscription is going to renew soon, how can I update my credit card?

If we find that your credit card is set to expire soon, we will send you an email one month before the renewal date. You can then log in and update your credit card before your next renewal. You can also update your credit card information ahead of time by contacting our Customer Support Center. Click here for our Customer Support contact information.

How do I renew my Equifax ID Patrol&trade or Equifax Credit Watch&trade subscription?

If you pre-pay for a fixed number of months, your product will automatically renew at the end of the pre-paid period. Thirty calendar days prior to your renewal date, we will notify you via email that your product will be renewed unless you notify us that you wish to cancel your service. One year from the date of purchase, we will charge the credit card you provided at the time of purchase for another 12 months. Your subscription will continue to be renewed this way until you cancel it.

If you pay on a month-to-month basis, your subscription will automatically renew (and we will bill your credit or debit card) on the same day of each following month at the then-current rates until you cancel. If you purchase on the 31st day of the month, the renewal date will be the 30th day of each subsequent month. If your renewal date is the 30th, renewal during February will occur on the 28th.

If we are unable to renew your subscription because the credit card you provided us at the time of purchase is no longer valid, your subscription will be cancelled. You will have to provide updated credit card information in order to continue your subscription.

How do I upgrade my existing Equifax Credit Watch™ product?

You can upgrade your existing Credit Watch product by logging in to the Member Center. From the Member Center and under available products, look for the Credit Watch product you would like to upgrade to and select the order now button. Once you complete the order process, your product will be automatically upgraded based on your selection. Or you may contact Customer Support to assist you in upgrading your existing product. Click here for our Customer Support contact information.

I have Equifax Credit Watch™ Silver or Gold, can I upgrade to Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring?

Yes, you may upgrade to Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring. Simply log into your Equifax Personal Solutions account and look in the Member Center under available products. Choose Equifax Credit Watch™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring, or any of other other premium products you may choose to upgrade to, and select the order now button. Once you complete the order process, your product will be automatically upgraded based on your selection. Or you may contact Customer Support to assist you in upgrading your existing product. Click here for our Customer Support contact information.

I have Equifax Credit Watch Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring, can I upgrade to Equifax ID Patrol™?

Equifax ID Patrol contains all of the benefits of 3-in-1 Monitoring with the addition of Equifax Credit Report Control™ and Equifax WebDetect™. If you already have 3-in-1 monitoring, you can add both Credit Report Control and WebDetect to your subscription by adding them using the modules on the right of your Credit Watch tab on the Member Center. Or you may contact Customer Support to assist you in upgrading your existing product. Click here for our Customer Support contact information.

I got an email notification saying an account was removed from my credit report, but the account is still open and the last activity was just a few months ago. What happened?

Equifax Credit Watch™ works by comparing the information currently in your credit file to the information that was in your credit file the day before. If a bank reports an account number to Equifax as 12345678 one day, Equifax Credit Watch™ will look for that exact account number the following day.
If the bank changes the way it reports the account number -- so that it appears as 01234567, for example -- Equifax Credit Watch™ may send you an alert that the old account has been closed and a new account opened, though in reality nothing has changed. Also, from time to time lenders ask that we remove accounts from our system. This can be a permanent removal or just for a short time. Either way, this would cause this type of alert.

I have a new email address, how can I update it to ensure that I continue receiving my notifications?

You can update your email address by logging into the Member Center and selecting “My Profile”. Once accessed, you can update and modify your personal registration information such as: username, password, email address and secret question. Click here to update your email address.

After I got an Equifax Credit Watch™ notification regarding my account balance, I called my credit card company and found that their balance doesn′t match the balance on the alert. Why?

Equifax Credit Watch™ sends you alerts based on the information your creditors report to Equifax. Your creditor may have reported your information before you made recent charges or before your latest payment was received.

What types of notifications should I expect to receive?

Using criteria effective in determining possible early warning signs of identity theft, Equifax alerts you by email of key changes to your Equifax credit file. Changes that result in a notification include:

New accounts opened in your name
Credit inquiries resulting from a company requesting a copy of your credit report
An address change
Bankruptcies and other public records
Certain changes to current accounts
Balance increase alerts based on a self-selected dollar amount or percentage

When you receive a notification for an event you do not recognize, you should contact the company or organization listed in the notification immediately.

If you have Equifax ID Patrol™ or have added Equifax Credit Report Control™ or Equifax WebDetect™ to your Credit Watch product, you may also receive additional email alerts. Click the links below to view more information about these:

I received a credit file alert from one or two of the credit reporting agencies, but not all three. Why did this occur?

There may be multiple reasons why this occurred. First, creditors, lenders, and other entities may not report their information to each nationwide credit reporting agency on the same schedule. Therefore, you may receive the same alert from more than one agency, but with a lapse of time between each one. Second, not all creditors, lenders, and entities report their information to all three agencies. As a result you may not get the same alert from all three nationwide credit reporting agencies.

I’ve started using a new credit card, but still haven’t received an alert about opening a new account. Why?

Most credit card issuers report a new account within 30 days, but some can take as long as 90 days. Also, some smaller issuers may report to only one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If your credit card issuer doesn’t report to Equifax, Equifax will not receive the information. Call your card issuer and ask which credit reporting agencies it reports to, and how often.