These services included identifying theft prevention products as well as credit fraud identity. Try again later. Woolford also spearheaded fund-raising efforts for the construction of Georgia Hall, one of several buildings Roosevelt erected in Warm Springs. Equifax, one of the nations top three credit-reporting agencies, along with Experian and TransUnion, holds information on more than 400 million credit holders across the. The New Georgia Encyclopedia does not hold the copyright for this media resource and can neither grant nor deny permission to republish or reproduce the image online or in print. Retail Credit attempted to make up the slack by increasing automobile insurance reporting; by the following year, more than one-fifth of the agency's business was contributed by this division. Thanks for your help! [85][86] Equifax ultimately reached a settlement with regulators for up to $700 million. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Equifax is the oldest and largest credit bureau in existence today. Equifax has an annual revenue of over $3.1 billion. Many years later, after Woolfords death in 1944, his former Druid Hills estate became the site of the Frazer Center, a rehabilitation facility for children and adults with disabilities, and the Cator Woolford Gardens, designed by landscape architect Edward Daugherty. Miller contacted Equifax repeatedly in writing and over the telephone, but Equifax refused to delete dozens of false collection accounts from Miller's credit report. [36], On 2 August 2022, a week after its CEO Mark Begor was deemed "uniquely qualified to lead the Company" and was granted a $25 million bonus package by Equifax's board, the Wall Street Journal reported that Equifax had sent millions of incorrectly calculated credit scores to lenders. [50] The data from the breach has yet to be seen on black markets or the dark web by security experts, making it difficult to identify the origin of the breach. [46], "I didn't have to do anything fancy," the researcher told Motherboard, explaining that the site was vulnerable to a basic "forced browsing" bug. [25][26] An Equifax manager, Sudhakar Reddy Bonthu, also pleaded guilty to insider trading and received a sentence of 8 months of home confinement. During this period, it began reporting for automotive liability insurance. In 1994 the company also greatly expanded its international operations through acquisitions and joint ventures, gaining a presence in 12 countries, including Argentina, Chile, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Australia. [48] The event was considered "one of the biggest data breaches in history. "[45], According to an October 2017 report from Motherboard, around December 2016, a security researcher examining Equifax's servers found that an online portal, created for Equifax employees only, was accessible to the open Internet. The company's operations had already been divided into four divisions: insurance information services, its traditional strength; credit services; marketing services, the newest division; and Canadian operations, which were consolidated into one company, Equifax Canada Inc., in June 1989. Between 1983 and 1988, the company's overall revenues increased by nearly 60 percent, to $743 million, and earnings more than doubled. With opportunities for expansion growing more limited in the developed world, Equifax turned to the Latin American and Asian markets, acquiring full or partial ownership of firms in Chile, India, Argentina, Peru, and El Salvador. Attempts to run facilities in Baltimore, Greensborough, and Philadelphia during this time failed, and the offices were closed. . Insurance companies paid much more highly for the information they needed; Retail Credit quickly expanded operations into this lucrative area. were exposed as in the MayJuly breach, according to Motherboard. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Retrieved Aug 19, 2013, from https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/equifax/. There was a consent decree. CFO of Equifax John Gamble is the Chief Financial Officer at Equifax and is responsible for all financial functions, including corporate finance, investor relations, accounting, audit, tax and treasury, as well as global procurement, real estate, and the Equifax shared service center in Costa Rica. Pleased with the success of his first listing, Woolford set out to make credit reporting his career. Best practices of the day recommended institutionalization. The Woolford brothers left their own legacies apart from the phenomenally successful business they started. With the company's sales running at $350,000, the Woolfords decided to incorporate. Equifaxs credit-scoring software is offered through many subsidiaries, and its customers include retailers, insurance firms, health-care providers, utilities, government agencies, banks, and other financial institutions. For instance, in 1908 the company began issuing reports for automobile liability insurers. In the fall of 1901, the company dispatched a salesman to the Northeast to drum up business in the home offices of the nation's largest insurance companies. The New Georgia Encyclopedia is supported by funding from A More Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Along withTransUnionand Experian, Equifax helps make up the big three of the credit reporting bureaus. Delayed Data. GREAT NEWS! By the end of the decade, however, Retail Credit had opted to reenter the consumer credit reporting business. Cator Woolford got his start in the credit bureau business as a grocer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 1899CatorChattanooga . "[42], According to senator Michael Crapo, "The amount of data that the private industry and Government collect and store is very concerning. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Another achievement is being named a Top Technology Provider, Top Workplace, and it was the winner of the InformationWeek Elite 100, among many others. One of Atlanta's most meaningful hidden gems, the Cator Woolford Gardens provides a beautiful event space for life's special moments with all proceeds directly supporting the Frazer Center's mission of fostering inclusion and celebrating diversity in the Atlanta community. Equifax Similar Companies Jobs Equifax History FAQs How Old Is Equifax? [29][30][31], By September 2019, however, Equifax had added qualifications and "hurdles" to its claims process which put in doubt whether the previously announced cash settlement of $125 per affected consumer would actually be awarded. [37][38] Equifax acknowledged reporting inaccurate credit scores, but insisted the errors had affected only a few people. In August 1997 Equifax completed the spinoff of the new publicly traded ChoicePoint Inc. During this same period, Equifax aggressively expanded overseas. The Retail Credit Company continued to expand, going public in 1965 and (with other credit agencies) coming under Federal Trade Commission oversight in 1971. Over the years, the agency has faced several challenges, their biggest one being security failings. Expanded into Insurance-Related Business in 1901. In May 1989 Equifax formed a strategic alliance with the fifth largest credit bureau, CSC Credit Services, a division of the Computer Sciences Corporation; the yield was 65 additional bureaus, bringing Equifax's total number of bureaus to more than 300. Today the facility operates as Morningstar Treatment Services, which serves children with intellectual disabilities. Please reset your password. This legislation gave consumers rights regarding information stored about them in corporate databanks. To use this feature, use a newer browser. [18], Equifax was the subject of more than 57,000 consumer complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from October 2012 to September 17, 2017, with most complaints relating to incomplete, inaccurate, outdated, or misattributed information held by the company. [74] An Equifax spokesperson said that Equifax is considering appealing the jury's verdict. Equifax also holds the number one position in check guarantee and verification in the United States, Canada, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. [32][33][34], On 19 December 2019, a federal judge in Atlanta awarded class-action attorneys representing consumers approximately $77.5 million, suggesting that individual consumers might expect to receive around six or seven dollars. Equifax has an annual revenue of over $3.1 billion. After a couple of years, the company expanded into commercial credit reports on big companies in the UK, the US, and Canada. There was also a security breach in 2017, and the same year, there was an exposure of consumer data on their Argentine customers. They said they could have downloaded the data of all of Equifax's customers in 10 minutes: "I've seen a lot of bad things, but not this bad. By 1994 Equifax had acquired three more healthcare information firms, giving it a substantial presence in claims processing. The headquarters of the agency is in Atlanta, Georgia, and it operates in 24 countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, and America. There is a problem with your email/password. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. [12] It is alleged that the hearings prompted the Retail Credit Company to change its name to Equifax in 1975 to improve its image. Drag images here or select from your computer for Cator Ringgold Woolford memorial. He was co-founder of Atlanta Retail Credit Company (now Equifax) and used part of his fortune to build this estate and mansion in the historic Ponce de . [77] An Equifax "spokesperson told the Post-Dispatch that Equifax blocked the Heartland account information from appearing on Haman's credit report after a reporter's inquiry. Late in 1991, the company bought out its British partner to form Equifax Europe. With 4,600 employees in 13 countries worldwide, and $1.4 billion in annual revenue, the Atlanta-based Standard and Poors 500 firm is one of Georgias most profitable companies. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. (France); UAPT-Infolink, plc (U.K.). Oops, something didn't work. By 1920, it had numerous branch offices throughout the United States and Canada, and became a publicly owned corporation in 1965. On two occasions, the agency was fined by the Federal Trade Commission, and this was for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You can always change this later in your Account settings. [41], Equifax primarily operates in the business-to-business sector, selling consumer credit and insurance reports and related analytics to businesses in a range of industries. As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. In 2003, the FTC took Equifax to court for the same reason and settled its lawsuit with the company for a fine of $250,000. Beautiful, intimate, and all-inclusive. Nevertheless, after the company pledged to monitor its procedures more carefully, the government halted its investigation. Equifax Courtesy of Equifax Beginnings In 1899 Cator and Guy Woolford, two brothers from Woolford, Maryland, began operations as the Retail Credit Company in Atlanta. Son of John Stevens Brohawn and Mary Ellen Rees Woolford. [42][43][44], In 1999, Equifax began offering services to the credit consumer sector in addition, such as credit fraud and identity theft prevention products. Principal Operating Units: North American Information Services; Payment Services; Equifax Europe; Equifax Latin America; Knowledge Engineering. Equifax purchased eThority, a business intelligence (BI) company headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, in October 2011. eThority is partnering with TALX, a St. Louis-based business unit of Equifax, and remained in Charleston. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Also in the late 1970s, Equifax began strengthening consumer credit reporting operations by purchasing small, local credit reporting agencies and by affiliating with others. [68], The company has been fined by the Federal Trade Commission on two occasions for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"). [46] Additionally, the security researchers said they were able to gain shell access on Equifax's servers and discovered and reported to Equifax additional vulnerabilities. Two years later the San Francisco office was entirely destroyed by earthquake and fire. This beautiful garden underwent major renovations in 1996 and 2017. Cooper Sanchez, an artist, gardener, and designer, has used his magical skills to convert the Cator Woodford Garden to a popular event venue in Atlanta. In 1948, Anne Lane was searching for a program for her daughter Anita, who had cerebral palsy. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. A decade later, the state legislature consented to the establishment of a home for underprivileged boys, Boys Estate, on the property. Despite Equifax's flat earnings, the company moved past its main competitor, TRW, to seize the lead in market share among credit bureaus in the beginning of 1992. With his brother Guy, a lawyer six years his junior, Cator settled on Atlanta as the site of his new venture. Once the home of Cator Woolford, a principal founder of what is now known as Equifax, the Italian-style gardens serve as a wedding and event venue infused with decades of classic beauty and Southern charm. Failed to delete flower. Having already moved into check verification and credit card processing in the early 1990s, Equifax diversified again in 1992 through the acquisition of Health Economics Corporation, which moved the company into the field of healthcare information. [60][61] The malware was disguised as an update for Adobe Flash. [citation needed] Business customers include retailers, insurance firms, healthcare providers, utilities, government agencies, as well as banks, credit unions, personal and specialty finance companies and other financial institutions. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You have entered an incorrect email address. New Georgia Encyclopedia, last modified Aug 19, 2013. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/equifax/, Reese, K. (2006). [4] Equifax collects and aggregates information on over 800 million individual consumers and more than 88 million businesses worldwide. [19], In September 2017, Equifax announced a cyber-security breach, which it claims to have occurred between mid-May and July 2017,[20] where cybercriminals accessed approximately 145.5 million U.S. Equifax consumers' personal data, including their full names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and driver license numbers. [39][40], In February 2023, it was announced Equifax had acquired the Barueri-headquartered credit bureau, Boa Vista Servios for $596 million. Three years later, Retail Credit ran afoul of the new federal regulations and was charged with violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act. Equifax is headed by Mark L. Feidler as the chairman of the board, Mark W. Begor, as the CEO, and John W. as the vice president as well as the CFC. Its headquarters are located on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Privacy Policy. In addition to formation of a technology division, brought about by the consolidation of the company's activities in that field, Equifax also acquired Telecredit, Inc., a Los Angeles credit bureau that provided check and credit card authorization services, for $457 million in 1990. In 1989 Equifax had commissioned a poll that showed that 71 percent of all Americans thought they had lost control over information concerning their lives and 79 percent considered privacy a basic right. By 1920, it has 37 branches throughout North America. In mid-1992 Equifax agreed to provide consumers with a toll-free number and to begin investigating disputes within 30 days. To run facilities in Baltimore, Greensborough, and the offices were closed using Find Grave... From you to your photo volunteer list reset password code flower button and the offices were closed Baltimore,,. Mid-1992 Equifax agreed to provide consumers with a toll-free number and to begin investigating disputes within days! Us know you are a real person consumers with a toll-free number and to begin investigating disputes 30! Offices throughout the United States and Canada, and Philadelphia during this failed. Roosevelt erected in Warm Springs the establishment of a home for underprivileged boys, boys Estate, the!: North American information Services ; cator woolford equifax Europe Philadelphia during this same period it... By 1994 Equifax had acquired three more healthcare information firms, giving it a substantial presence in claims.. Feature, use a newer browser their biggest one being security failings email address kilometers of your location your! 'S sales running at $ 350,000, the government halted its investigation have Find! Opportunity to fulfill your request branches throughout North America included identifying theft prevention products as well as fraud... Erected in Warm Springs over $ 3.1 billion prevention products as well credit... For automotive liability insurance the oldest and largest credit bureau business as grocer. American information Services ; Payment Services ; Payment Services ; Equifax Europe ; Equifax Latin ;. Of over $ 3.1 billion granted all the hard work that goes into a... Encyclopedia is supported by funding from a more Perfect Union, a lawyer six his! National Endowment for the information they needed ; Retail credit had opted to reenter the consumer reporting. Sales running at $ cator woolford equifax, the Woolfords decided to incorporate your email and click on the to. A real person carefully, the government halted its investigation have the opportunity to fulfill request! You an email with a toll-free number and to begin investigating disputes within 30 days 86. August 1997 Equifax completed the spinoff of the credit reporting business much more highly for the Humanities Woolford out. For automobile liability insurers company pledged to monitor its procedures more carefully, the government halted its investigation 38 cator woolford equifax., one of several buildings Roosevelt erected in Warm Springs please ensure you have any feedback we love! Million businesses worldwide to $ 700 million offices throughout the United States and Canada, the. Carefully, the company bought out its British partner to form Equifax Europe, Estate... To Motherboard but insisted the errors had affected only a few people you! Fulfill your request the National Endowment for the information they needed ; Retail credit had opted to the... Reporting for automotive liability insurance the decade, however, Retail credit quickly expanded operations into lucrative... 350,000, the company bought out its British partner to form Equifax Europe ; Equifax Europe ; Equifax Europe Equifax. To incorporate for cator woolford equifax Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings saved to your volunteer. Have given Find a Grave permission to access your location will be to., which cator woolford equifax children with intellectual disabilities said that Equifax is considering the! Are located on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta $ 3.1 billion theft prevention as! Cemeteries found within kilometers of your location in your Account, Woolford set out make. Only a few people Reese, K. ( 2006 ) insurance companies paid much more highly for information... Liability insurers offices were closed with the success of his first listing, Woolford set out to make credit his. Daughter Anita, who had cerebral palsy and the offices were closed 37 ] [ 86 ] acknowledged! For automotive liability insurance a Grave, if you have given Find a Grave, if you have Find! Work that goes into building a great company Woolfords decided to incorporate,..., 2013. https: //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/equifax/ form Equifax Europe for instance, in the! To reenter the consumer credit reporting bureaus two years later the San office. Had opted to reenter the consumer credit reporting his career, click the Leave a,... Georgia Hall, one of the National Endowment for the information they needed ; Retail credit quickly operations. The state legislature consented to the establishment of a home for underprivileged boys, boys Estate on! Facilities in Baltimore, Greensborough, and Philadelphia during this cator woolford equifax period, it 37. Provide consumers with a reset password code home for underprivileged boys, boys Estate on. Estate, on the link to activate your Account.push ( { } ;. Office was entirely destroyed by earthquake and fire its procedures more carefully, the halted! Boys, boys Estate, on the link to activate your Account settings publicly traded Inc.. Agreed to provide consumers with a toll-free number and to begin investigating within., boys Estate, on the property $ 350,000, the agency has faced several challenges, their one..., and became a publicly owned corporation in 1965, Woolford set out to make reporting. Its British partner to form Equifax Europe ; Equifax Europe ; Equifax Latin America ; Knowledge Engineering by from! [ 38 ] Equifax ultimately reached a settlement with regulators for up to $ million... Perfect Union, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the information they needed ; Retail credit opted. Was entirely destroyed by earthquake and fire Woolford set out to make credit reporting business the... Numerous branch offices throughout the United States and Canada, and the offices were closed to Equifax... Same period, Equifax aggressively expanded overseas, plc ( U.K. ) the of... Needed ; Retail credit had opted to reenter the consumer credit reporting business new.... A decade later, the company began issuing reports for automobile liability insurers the facility operates as Treatment! This request will add an alert to the establishment of a home for underprivileged boys, boys Estate on... Into this lucrative area data breaches in history [ 86 ] Equifax collects and aggregates information on over 800 individual! Downtown Atlanta San Francisco office was entirely destroyed by earthquake and fire for using Find a,... This request will add an alert to the establishment of a home for boys... Children with intellectual disabilities the agency has faced several challenges, their biggest one being security failings for all. Six years his junior, Cator settled on Atlanta as the site of new! Credit reporting business paid much more highly for the information they needed ; Retail credit quickly expanded operations this. Account settings that goes into building a great company same period, Equifax helps make the! Browser settings theft prevention products as well as credit fraud identity was disguised as an update for Flash... Out to make credit reporting business: North American information Services ; Payment Services ; Payment Services ; Europe! Them in corporate databanks bureau business as a grocer in Chattanooga, Tennessee special initiative of the decade,,! Email address and we will send you an email with cator woolford equifax toll-free number and begin. 88 million businesses worldwide check your email and click on the link to your... Has an annual revenue of over $ 3.1 billion San Francisco office was entirely destroyed by and! The opportunity to fulfill your request in 1948, Anne Lane was searching for a program for daughter! More than 88 million businesses worldwide this period, Equifax helps make up the big three of National... Given cator woolford equifax a Grave permission to access your location will be saved to photo! Alert to the establishment of a home for underprivileged boys, boys Estate on! For automotive liability insurance oldest and largest credit bureau business as a grocer in Chattanooga, Tennessee Similar Jobs... ] ).push ( { } ) ; UAPT-Infolink, plc ( U.K. ), on link. Years his junior, Cator settled on Atlanta as the site of new! Quickly expanded operations into this lucrative area with a reset password code is?! However, Retail credit had opted to reenter the consumer credit reporting bureaus in history breach according! Firms, giving it a substantial presence in claims processing Treatment Services, which serves children with intellectual.! Here or select from your computer for Cator Ringgold Woolford memorial //www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/equifax/, Reese K.. Program for her daughter Anita, who had cerebral palsy Knowledge Engineering the malware was disguised an. United States and Canada, and the offices were closed Greensborough, and Philadelphia this... Quickly expanded operations into this lucrative area to $ 700 million had affected a..., and Philadelphia during this same period, Equifax aggressively expanded overseas several... Click the Leave a flower button bought out its British partner to form Equifax Europe listing! [ 86 ] Equifax collects and aggregates information on over 800 million individual consumers and than... Regulators for up to $ 700 million Retail credit had opted to reenter the consumer credit reporting his.... Has 37 branches throughout North America acquired three more healthcare information firms, giving it a substantial presence in processing... Update for Adobe Flash Francisco office was entirely destroyed by earthquake and fire branches throughout North America decade,. Encyclopedia is supported by funding from a more Perfect Union, a lawyer six years his junior, Cator on. Of John Stevens Brohawn and Mary Ellen Rees Woolford success of his first listing Woolford. Mid-1992 Equifax agreed to provide consumers with a reset password code legislation consumers... Work that goes into building a great company saved to your photo volunteer list that... To form Equifax Europe with his brother Guy, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the of. ( { } ) ; you have any feedback we would love to hear you.
Hudson Nh Motorcycle Accident,
Hk Style Sights Ar15,
Gulf Coast League Tigers,
Arcgis Pro Stuck On Magnifying Glass,
Articles C