Equifax: 2002 Annual Report

The Equifax Difference is making a difference in improving the credit health of millions of consumers — giving them the opportunity to enlighten, enable and empower themselves to better manage and protect their financial information in a credit-driven economy.

More Products, More Power
In the past 12 months, Equifax has provided more products and services directly to the consumer. These product introductions and enhancements include:

Consumer Credit Reporting — Introduced a new online, instant report that allows individuals to view a line-by-line comparison of their credit history as reported by the three major credit reporting agencies — with just one order.
Insurance Scores — Another new product that provides consumers with access to their personal automobile and homeowner-insurance scores. Insurance companies use these scores to objectively underwrite and price coverage at a fair cost. By understanding the risk factors that insurance companies take into account, consumers can shop more intelligently for their insurance needs.
Equifax Credit Watch™ — A credit monitoring, subscription-based, identity protection service that sends the consumer email notifications within 24 hours of key inquiries, or changes in his or her credit file. This product was enhanced this year to offer Identity Theft Insurance to its subscribers through a partnership with AIG eBusiness Risk Solutions, a global leader in Internet-related risk management.
Score Power® — A combination of a credit score, credit report, and an interactive score simulator tool allows consumers to analyze the impact to their credit scores from simulated changes — such as paying off balances or assuming a loan — in their credit files.

Better Access, More Convenience
We are committed to increase awareness and accessibility through our consumer products. From our initial point of distribution at www.equifax.com, Consumer Direct product availability has grown to include approximately 140 different distribution partnerships. In 2002, we strengthened our relationship with one of our largest Website link partners: Microsoft®. Equifax consumer products are packaged with Microsoft® Money 2003 Deluxe — now on the shelves of major retailers. And, we have developed a private label product similar to Equifax Credit Watch for customers to use as a method to generate revenue and customer loyalty.

Identity Protection
We expanded our Consumer Direct business to address critical consumer issues, such as identity theft. Concern with this increasing problem is a key reason that renewal rates for Equifax Credit Watch, which alerts subscribers within 24 hours of changes to their credit files, are running well above the industry average. To further heighten awareness of this issue and eradicate its threat in Georgia, we have teamed with the State of Georgia to create a new Web initiative: www.stopidentitytheft.org. Attorneys general from other states have shown interest in importing these awareness efforts and believe Equifax is addressing a vital need.

Favorable Growth Trends
The Consumer Direct business is off to a robust start in 2003, fueled by record new customer acquisitions and repeat purchases from existing customers to meet their changing financial health needs. We expect the increases in this diverse revenue stream to build as the market for consumer credit and information management products grows.

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