[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. Retail Credit Company's information holdings and willingness to sell its information attracted criticism in the 1960s and 1970s. One of the country's top credit-reporting agencies, Equifax is one of Georgia's most profitable companies. [66], In 1982, Retail Credit Company was criticized for collecting "facts, statistics, inaccuracies and rumors about virtually every phase of a person's life; his marital troubles, jobs, school history, childhood, sex life, and political activities. [85][86] Equifax ultimately reached a settlement with regulators for up to $700 million. 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. Leaving the direct-marketing business enhanced Equifax's public image without too much sacrifice; the relinquished activities provided only $12 million, or one percent of Equifax's revenues. "With his brother Guy, Cator Woolford started the Retail Credit Company, the precursor to Equifax. The origins of these gardens date back to the 1920's and was once home to Cator Woolford himself - one of the leading founders of what we know today as Equifax. Founder of the Retail Credit Company of Atlanta, Ga., now Equifax, one of the three major credit-rating agencies in the US. In 1923 Retail Credit spun off local consumer credit rating operations and formed a new corporation, Credit Service Exchange. Using the ledger books of Atlanta's food retailers, the Woolford's copied out credit information on their customers on individual slips on paper, then arranged them into a book. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. During the second half of 1998 Equifax purchased an 80 percent stake in Segurana ao Crdito e Informaes, the leading financial information company in Brazil; a 59 percent controlling stake in Unnisa-Solues em Meios de Pagamento Ltda., Brazil's leading credit card processing firm; and a 34 percent interest in Proceda Tecnologia e Informtica S.A., the second largest outsourcer of information technology in Brazil. They were originally founded in 1898, 70 years before the creation of Trans Union. The company would also no longer keep tabs on customers' buying histories for the purpose of placing shoppers in a range of categories from "luxury buyers" to "coupon clippers." Cator Woolford got his start in the credit bureau business as a grocer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Equifax is the oldest and largest credit bureau in existence today. CatoGuy Woolford18993 . On March 22, 1899, the company opened for business. The headquarters of the agency is in Atlanta, Georgia, and it operates in 24 countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, and America. [23], In March 2018, the Security and Exchange Commission accused Jun Ying, Equifax's former CIO, of illicit insider trading, by selling company stock before the breach was publicly disclosed. In addition, the company modified the processes for correcting mistakes in its files, making it easier for consumers to set the record straight. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. There was a consent decree. Weve updated the security on the site. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. By 1920, it has 37 branches throughout North America. There was also a security breach in 2017, and the same year, there was an exposure of consumer data on their Argentine customers. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Cator Woolford (1869-1944), Atlanta businessman, civic leader and philanthropist, founded the Retail Credit Company (the precursor to Equifax) in 1899. 1989: Equifax forms an alliance with CSC Credit Services. Two brothers, Cator and Guy Woolford, created the company. By 1913 Retail Credit had developed a special form for automobile insurance, to be completed by the investigator. The company was founded by Cator Woolford and Guy Woolford in 1899 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Read More Today's Range Now: $198.53 $197.52 $199.67 50 Day Range MA: $205.27 $193.14 $230.65 2 Week Range Now: $198.53 $145.98 $234.14 Volume 86,944 shs Average Volume 775,271 shs Market Capitalization $24.46 billion P/E Ratio 35.14 There was an error deleting this problem. Also in the late 1970s, Equifax began strengthening consumer credit reporting operations by purchasing small, local credit reporting agencies and by affiliating with others. GREAT NEWS! The company posted a loss of $2,242. "[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. Don't ignore the company's latest email", "That $125 payment from Equifax? Make sure that the file is a photo. [87], 2016 advance-warnings of insecure systems, 2017 withdrawal of vulnerable mobile apps. Founded by brothers Cator and Guy Woolford, each got their start in the credit business as grocers, where they compiled lists of customers based on their creditworthiness. Cator Woolford Gardens - Cator, Three (CWG) (GC4BAB) was created by BigDoggie & Frogger (adopted by ckirbee) on 4/10/2002. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? 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. In June the pages of the book were run out on a mimeograph machine and bound between hard covers with the title "Merchant's Guide.". "[67], The company was charged with rewarding its employees for collecting negative information on consumers in the 1970s. [42] Credit reports provide detailed information on the personal credit and payment history of individuals, indicating how they have honored financial obligations such as paying bills or repaying a loan. Equifax is the oldest and largest credit bureau in existence today. [35], In July 2020, Equifax reported that, after purchasing Ansonia Credit Data (Ansonia), a major source of consumer credit, payments, and invoice receivables (AR) data used by financial companies and other borrowers and businesses in the shipping and logistics sectors, the firm has expanded its position in commercial payment technology solutions. Under this law, consumers were given the right to gain access to their credit files and correct errors in them. Try again later. The company sold stock to the public for the first time in 1965. The agency has an operating income of $900 million, and its net income was estimated to be $600.1 million last year. [59], On October 12, 2017, Equifax's website was reported to have been offering visitors malware via drive-by download. In addition to credit and demographic data and services to business,[5] Equifax sells credit monitoring and fraud prevention services directly to consumers. "Equifax." Equifax Inc. is an American multinational consumer credit reporting agency headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and is one of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies, along with Experian and TransUnion (together known as the "Big Three"). This was one of the last parcels in Druid Hills to be purchased, ostensibly because so much of it was considered Guy Woolford and his brother, Cator, founded Retail Credit Company, which became Equifax in the 1970s. [76], In 2014, Equifax and Heartland Bank were sued by Kimberly Haman of the St. Louis area for reporting she was dead. Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. To cover the costs of this effort, Woolford sold copies of the book to other merchants. By the end of the decade, however, Retail Credit had opted to reenter the consumer credit reporting business. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. That year also saw Equifax introduce a record 25 new products. 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. By the end of the company's second decade of existence, Retail Credit was thoroughly established as a significant partner in the life insurance business. The following year the company also opened a branch office in Cincinnati. [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. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Once the estate of Cator Woolford, founder of the company now known as Equifax, these lovely grounds include the beautiful Cator Woolford Gardens. In total, the researcher downloaded the data of hundreds of thousands of Americans in order to show Equifax the vulnerabilities within its systems. Drag images here or select from your computer for Cator Ringgold Woolford memorial. Equifax Inc. - then called the Retail Credit Company - was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, by brothers Cator and Guy Woolford in 1899. Equifax has an annual revenue of over $3.1 billion. Similarly an agency that had previously limited its activities to claims inspection also joined the fray. Relying on his experience in Tennessee, Cator began by seeking out an alliance with the city's grocers. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. [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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Equifax (EFX) has a Smart Score of 9 based on an analysis of 8 unique data sets, including Analyst Recommendations, Crowd Wisdom, and Hedge Fund Activity. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Please enter your email and password to sign in. (ChoicePoint and Equifax did not then, nor do they now, share information or any relationship.). 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. Woolford was sympathetic to Roosevelts illness, and he became one of the founders of the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation (later, Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation). Its headquarters are located on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. [6], Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. They were originally founded in 1898, 70 years before the creation of the Trans Union. There he supervised the compilation of a list of customers, with indications of their credit-worthiness, for the local Retail Grocer ' s Association. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. A decade later, the state legislature consented to the establishment of a home for underprivileged boys, Boys Estate, on the property. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Towards this end, the company opened five new insurance-related offices in that year. . 1930: The Retail Credit Company has 81 branch offices throughout North America. [citation needed] Equifax sells businesses credit reports, analytics, demographic data, and software. Equifax was founded in 1898 by two brothers, Cator and Guy Woolford. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Son of John Stevens Brohawn and Mary Ellen Rees Woolford.Founder of the Retail Credit Company of Atlanta, Ga., now Equifax, one of the three major credit-rating agencies in the US.Married Charlotte Louise Boyd (19001965) on 01 Jan 1920, at the home of her parents in Griffin, Spalding, GA, U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-2020, U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 2); Equifax Ventures, Inc.; Financial Institution Benefit Association, Inc.; Financial Insurance Marketing Group, Inc.; First Bankcard Systems, Inc.; Global Scan Ltd. (U.K.); Global Scan (USA), Inc.; Goldleaf Technologies, Inc.; High Integrity Systems, Inc.; The Infocheck Group Ltd. (U.K.); Infolink Ltd. (U.K.); Light Signatures, Inc.; Market Knowledge, Incorporated; Stewardship, Inc.; Tecnicob S.A. (France); Transax Australia plc (U.K.); Transax France plc (U.K.); Transax (Ireland) plc; Transax Ltd. (New Zealand); Transax plc. Try again. The Woolford brothers left their own legacies apart from the phenomenally successful business they started. This browser does not support getting your location. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. The researcher requested anonymity out of professional concerns. 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. Equifax. Sorry! Equifax Inc. is the largest consumer credit bureau in the United States, providing information about consumers to clients in several industries, including insurance, finance, credit card, banking, retail, and telecommunications. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. As an Equifax executive explained in Business Week, "People see the use of this information as a privacy problem if it goes beyond credit purposes." The companys name was changed to Equifax in 1976, perhaps, some thought, to counter the lingering memory of the companys brushes with government regulators. 1979: Retail Credit Company changes its name to Equifax. [60][61][62][63] At that time, only 3 out of 65 top anti-malware products provided protection against the particular malware, meaning that many visitors were at risk of having their computers infected when visiting the Equifax website. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. 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. In 1899 Cator and Guy Woolford, two brothers from Woolford, Maryland, began operations as the Retail Credit Company in Atlanta. By 1994 Equifax had acquired three more healthcare information firms, giving it a substantial presence in claims processing. Photograph of Cator Woolford, who, with his brother Guy, started the Retail Credit Company, the precursor to Equifax, in Atlanta, Georgia. To make amends, Equifax announced in August 1991 that it would cease using credit information to compile lists for the purposes of direct marketing. It had turned to Edelman for earlier crisis control after the October 2017 privacy breach. "[49], Several consumers filed lawsuits in small-claims court against Equifax due to the breach, while Equifax later came to a $575 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to offer either a cash payment or credit monitoring for those affected by the breach. Please try again later. [48] The event was considered "one of the biggest data breaches in history. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The company responded that such findings were never used in credit-rating evaluations but were limited to its insurance and consumer investigations businesses (which were later spun off). [47], Between May and July 2017, yet-identified hackers were able to use a known exploit on one of Equifax' web servers that had yet to be updated to access the credit records of more than 140 million Americans as well as some British and Canadian citizens before the breach was detected and shut down. ). Equifax also confirmed at least 209,000 consumers' credit card credentials were taken in the attack. Try again later. Equifax was widely criticized for the hack and for how it responded after the matter. [73] The jury's verdict is believed to be the largest award in an individual case under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You shouldn't count on it", "If you made a claim for $125 from Equifax, you're not getting it after court awards nearly $80 million to attorneys", "Equifax acquires Ansonia expanding leadership in commercial credit data solutions", "WSJ News Exclusive | Equifax Sent Lenders Inaccurate Credit Scores on Millions of Consumers", "Equifax issued wrong credit scores for millions", "Equifax sued over erroneous credit scores sent for "millions" of Americans", "Equifax to acquire Brazilian credit bureau Boa Vista Servios for $596m", "Freezing Credit Will Now Be Free. Retail Credit set a pattern of aggressive development in the life insurance-related business that would later be applied when entering other fields. Who Is The Founder Of Equifax? [12] It is alleged that the hearings prompted the Retail Credit Company to change its name to Equifax in 1975 to improve its image. Soon offices in Chicago and San Francisco came on line. [42], Equifax also offers fraud prevention products based on device fingerprinting such as "FraudIQ Authenticate Device. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Cator Woolford (73468528)? On March 1, 2018, Equifax announced that 2.4 million additional U.S. customers were affected by the breach,[21] increasing the number of affected to 147.9 million Americans. The U.S. entry into World War II had a serious impact on Retail Credit's business. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. [8] By 1920, the company had offices throughout the United States and Canada. Equifax was forced to confront growing consumer hostility in the early 1990s, as watchdog groups contended that credit bureaus' files were often inaccurate and were used in inappropriate ways. [71] In her lawsuit, Miller alleged Equifax had merged her credit reports with another person with a different Social Security number, date of birth, and address. 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. These services included identifying theft prevention products as well as credit fraud identity. Following these failings, Equifax has faced several lawsuits as well as fines over the years. Exited Healthcare and Insurance, Expanded Internationally, in Mid-to-Late 1990s. By 1920, it had numerous branch offices throughout the United States and Canada, and became a publicly owned corporation in 1965. They started their credit investigations by going door-to-door among merchants, asking about their customers and noting the findings in ledgers. sweetwater pontoon boat decals, vtech phone goes straight to voicemail,
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