# Alerts

## Alerts
**What it is.** Real-time notifications generated when something changes on a user's credit file — a **new account**, a **hard inquiry**, an **address change**, a **derogatory mark**, an unusual balance change, and more. Equifax monitors enrolled users continuously; we ingest each event, store it, and fan it out to whichever delivery channels are enabled.
**What it's for.** Engaging users between sessions, flagging fraud the moment it shows up on a credit file, and giving your support team the data they need when a user calls in upset about an unexpected change.
**Bureau coverage.** Alerts are offered **through Equifax only** at this time — including the 3B monitoring flags, where Equifax monitors all three bureaus on your behalf. Unlike scores and reports, they are not yet available directly from TransUnion or Experian, so a host with those bureaus enabled still receives its alerts from Equifax.
**Delivery channels.** Alerts can be sent through any combination of:
- **Webhook** — server-to-server delivery to your backend for downstream processing.
- **Email**, **SMS**, **Push** — direct-to-user delivery, opt-in per channel.
- **API** — pull alerts on demand from the **[Alerts API](/client-spec/user-alerts-monitoring)**.

Channel availability is controlled by the host config and end-user notification preferences. For server-to-server delivery details — payload format, retry behavior, and authentication — see **[Webhooks](/client-spec/webhooks)**.
**Alert types.** Alerts arrive on two channels: **CRT (Credit Real-Time)** — delivered immediately when the event occurs, with full institution detail; and **CFM (Credit File Monitoring)** — delivered once daily in a batch with abbreviated data. Which alert types a user receives depends on the alerts features enrolled on their profile (`1B Monitoring`, `3B Monitoring`, `1B Real-time monitoring`, etc.).
*CRT — Real-time*
| Alert type | Enrollment feature | Description |
|  --- | --- | --- |
| `HardInquiryAlert` | 1B Real-time monitoring | A hard inquiry was made against the user's credit file |
| `BlockedInquiryAlert` | 1B Real-time monitoring | An inquiry was attempted while the user's credit file was locked |
| `TelcoUtilityAlert` | Telco utility | A telco or utility account event (available on request) |

*CFM — Daily batch*
Each CFM alert type fires on a **New** event (brand-new item), a **Change** event (update to an existing item), or both. CFM alerts are activated by 1B (Equifax only) or 3B (all three bureaus) flags unless noted otherwise.
| Alert type | Trigger | Description |
|  --- | --- | --- |
| `TradeLineAlert` | New | A new tradeline (account) was opened |
| `InquiryAlert` | New | A hard inquiry was recorded |
| `CollectionAlert` | New, Change | A new collection or an update to an existing one |
| `BankruptcyAlert` | New, Change | A new bankruptcy filing or an update to an existing one |
| `AccountStatusChangeAlert` | Change | An account's status changed (e.g. became past due) |
| `AccountActivityDesignatorChangeAlert` | Change | An account's activity designator changed |
| `AccountNarrativeChangeAlert` | Change | An account's narrative/comment changed |
| `AddressAlert` | Change | The user's address on file changed |
| `NameAlert` | Change | The user's name on file changed |
| `ScoreChangeAlert` | Change | Vantage Score changed (available on request) |

[View endpoints →](/client-spec/user-alerts-monitoring)

Version: v3

## Description:

  - `Alerts` ()
    What it is. Real-time notifications generated when something changes on a user's credit file — a new account, a hard inquiry, an address change, a derogatory mark, an unusual balance change, and more. Equifax monitors enrolled users continuously; we ingest each event, store it, and fan it out to whichever delivery channels are enabled. What it's for. Engaging users between sessions, flagging fraud the moment it shows up on a credit file, and giving your support team the data they need when a user calls in upset about an unexpected change. Bureau coverage. Alerts are offered through Equifax only at this time — including the 3B monitoring flags, where Equifax monitors all three bureaus on your behalf. Unlike scores and reports, they are not yet available directly from TransUnion or Experian, so a host with those bureaus enabled still receives its alerts from Equifax. Delivery channels. Alerts can be sent through any combination of: Webhook — server-to-server delivery to your backend for downstream processing.Email, SMS, Push — direct-to-user delivery, opt-in per channel.API — pull alerts on demand from the Alerts API. Channel availability is controlled by the host config and end-user notification preferences. For server-to-server delivery details — payload format, retry behavior, and authentication — see Webhooks. Alert types. Alerts arrive on two channels: CRT (Credit Real-Time) — delivered immediately when the event occurs, with full institution detail; and CFM (Credit File Monitoring) — delivered once daily in a batch with abbreviated data. Which alert types a user receives depends on the alerts features enrolled on their profile (1B Monitoring, 3B Monitoring, 1B Real-time monitoring, etc.). CRT — Real-time Alert typeEnrollment featureDescriptionHardInquiryAlert1B Real-time monitoringA hard inquiry was made against the user's credit fileBlockedInquiryAlert1B Real-time monitoringAn inquiry was attempted while the user's credit file was lockedTelcoUtilityAlertTelco utilityA telco or utility account event (available on request) CFM — Daily batch Each CFM alert type fires on a New event (brand-new item), a Change event (update to an existing item), or both. CFM alerts are activated by 1B (Equifax only) or 3B (all three bureaus) flags unless noted otherwise. Alert typeTriggerDescriptionTradeLineAlertNewA new tradeline (account) was openedInquiryAlertNewA hard inquiry was recordedCollectionAlertNew, ChangeA new collection or an update to an existing oneBankruptcyAlertNew, ChangeA new bankruptcy filing or an update to an existing oneAccountStatusChangeAlertChangeAn account's status changed (e.g. became past due)AccountActivityDesignatorChangeAlertChangeAn account's activity designator changedAccountNarrativeChangeAlertChangeAn account's narrative/comment changedAddressAlertChangeThe user's address on file changedNameAlertChangeThe user's name on file changedScoreChangeAlertChangeVantage Score changed (available on request) View endpoints →