Can I Only Update My Address With Equifax By Mail?

November 12, 2024 9:28 AM

I have just moved and wish to update my address with Equifax. The other credit agencies allowed me to do this online, but Equifax say I have to mail them a photocopy of my driver's license and SS card. I have never updated my address with them in the past, but they already have all my previous addresses, so do I need to mail them my details too - or will they just get updated automagically?

A quick Google says you can change your address in the myEquifax Dispute Center, but if I do that and choose to dispute my current address (my previous one), I'm given the following options for "Why are you disputing your current address" - "I have never lived at this address", "This address belongs to another person with a similar name", "I believe I am a victim of fraud or identity theft and this address is not mine" - none of which fit my pretty common "I have moved".
It seems that I'm missing something here - that the only way to update my address with a major credit agency is by mail? - and if I do so, I'm also not quite sure if I'll receive confirmation when/ if it is done. Am/ will I?

posted by 7 Minutes of Madness to Work & Money (6 answers total)

I don't think this is actually necessary in most cases? I would certainly update your address with your credit cards or the like but not sure why you would bother doing so with the bureaus directly.
posted by Alensin at 9:39 AM on November 12 [6 favorites]

Oh boy.. I've been dealing with Equifax (and Experian, and TransUnion) on an unfortunate issue with identity theft recently.
All of my correspondence with Equifax has first been a phone call, and then they give me a PO Box to send a copy of my personal documents to as well as some kind of letter. (The latest was asking for a handwritten letter).
In the mail that I've sent them so far, they've sent back some very confusing documents that sort of confirm and sort of say something else, and this has been my hell for a few weeks.

TransUnion has been the most cooperative of the three. I only had to talk to them once.

With Experian, I had a.. larger customer service issue.. and they insist on communicating very slowly in emails. This has also been my hell for a few weeks.

That all being said, I've never had to directly update my address with the credit bureaus before, for reasons other than disputing fraud. My addresses have just appeared there.
posted by jozxyqk at 10:11 AM on November 12

Response by poster: My thought process behind updating my address (and phone number) is that I know they are used for first line verification checks, and if I don't know which address/ phone number Equifax currently have on file - my old or my new one - and I use the wrong one for verification, then this could send me down a rabbit hole I'd prefer not to have to dig myself out of, so I think it's in my best interest to be on the same page with them.
@jozxyqk - thank you for confirming that I'm not the only person being asked to submit physical documents in 2024!
posted by 7 Minutes of Madness at 11:14 AM on November 12

Can you use the free credit check service to find out what address they have on file for you? That will only work once but then they might have a service that lets you do some credit monitoring for free that will give you more frequent updates.
posted by metahawk at 12:11 PM on November 12

FWIW when I moved recently, the credit agencies picked up my new address on the next credit reporting cycle after my credit cards’ address changes.
posted by advil at 2:24 PM on November 12

Agree with others that you don’t need to update directly with the bureaus. They’ll update themselves frighteningly fast.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:17 PM on November 12 [1 favorite]