Experian is charging you because you likely signed up for a "free trial" of their credit monitoring (like IdentityWorks) that automatically converted to a paid monthly subscription, often around $24.99/month, after the trial ended. These charges appear after a promotional period (like 7 or 30 days) unless you manually cancel the service in your account settings before the renewal date, so check your welcome email and account portal for details.
To cancel online, log into your Experian account using your credentials. Go to your membership settings and choose the option to update your membership. From there, you'll have the option to switch to a free plan with no monthly fees or cancel your account entirely.
How can I deactivate or close my Experian account?
Canceling an Experian membership can range from straightforward to difficult, often requiring you to call customer service (1-888-397-3742) or use online chat, as automated online options can lead to loops, with many users reporting difficulty getting through or receiving unexpected charges, so having account info ready and clearly asking for a confirmation number is key to avoid resistance or further billing.
You may cancel your trial membership at any time within 7 days without charge. If you decide not to cancel, your membership will continue and you will be billed $24.99 each month for Experian IdentityWorks® Premium. Find out if your phone number, email or addresses are exposed online.
By Phone: Contact Experian's National Consumer Assistance Center at 1 888 EXPERIAN (1 888 397 3742). If you already have an Experian credit report you can dispute your information online. Or, contact us at the phone number on your report. We cannot accept disputes via email.
Yes, Experian has had multiple significant data breaches, most notably in 2015 (affecting T-Mobile applicants) and 2020 (a major incident involving South African data), exposing personal information like names, Social Security numbers, and financial details, leading to identity theft concerns and offers of credit monitoring for affected users.
You know your identity might be stolen through signs like unexpected bills or debt collection calls for accounts you didn't open, unfamiliar charges on bank/credit statements, loan application denials despite good credit, missing mail, or IRS alerts about fraudulent tax returns, all indicating someone is using your personal info for fraudulent activities like opening new accounts, draining funds, or filing taxes in your name. Regularly checking credit reports and bank statements is crucial to catch these red flags early.
Experian maintains a database of permission-based email addresses that are used by Experian and other marketers to send you offers of interest via email. To remove your email address from this database, send an email to unsubscribeall@experian.com from the email address you wish to remove.
No, deleting your Experian account doesn't directly affect your credit score because it only removes access to their services (monitoring, FICO scores), not your actual credit history or the underlying accounts on your credit report, which remain for years. However, closing the actual credit card or loan accounts you have access to through Experian can impact your score by reducing available credit (raising utilization) or shortening your credit history length.
Clues That Someone Has Stolen Your Information
Merchants refuse your checks. Debt collectors call you about debts that aren't yours. You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report. Medical providers bill you for services you didn't use.
Yes, you should take steps to "lock" or protect your Social Security Number (SSN) by using free services like credit freezes and SSN locks (like E-Verify Self Lock), and by being cautious about sharing it, as this significantly helps prevent employment fraud, tax scams, and unauthorized access to accounts. While no single lock stops all identity theft, combining freezes, locks, monitoring your accounts, and limiting SSN disclosure offers strong defense against fraudsters using your SSN for loans, jobs, or benefits.
Can You Remove Your SSN From the Dark Web? If your SSN is found on the Dark Web, it's nearly impossible to remove. Instead, you should try to figure out what additional information has been compromised — such as your credit card numbers, home address, or phone number — so you can mitigate the damage.
Experian is being sued by the CFPB, primarily by the CFPB for conducting "sham investigations" into credit report errors, failing to properly investigate disputes, and illegally reinserting inaccurate information, violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Additionally, separate class-action lawsuits allege Experian illegally sells consumers' phone numbers for unsolicited credit offers and mis handles account security, with a UK case also alleging data sales without consent.
On January 7, 2025, the Bureau filed a lawsuit against Experian Information Solutions, Inc., one of the largest consumer reporting agencies in the country.
Contact Customer Service
If you talk to someone by phone, get a reference or confirmation number for the conversation in case you need to follow up. If you connect with customer service by email or chat (or even snail mail), keep all written records of the conversation until you confirm the payments have stopped.