Money & Banking · Credit & Transfers
Checking your credit report for free
You can check your own report free from Equifax and TransUnion — do it yearly to catch errors and fraud early.
Your credit report is one of the most important financial documents in Canada. It determines what loans you qualify for, what interest rates you pay, and even whether a landlord approves your rental application. You have the legal right to check it for free once a year from each of Canada's two main credit bureaus—and you should do it regularly to catch errors and signs of identity theft early.
Why Your Credit Report Matters
A credit report is a detailed record of your credit history. It contains personal information like your name, date of birth, Social Insurance Number (SIN), and addresses. More importantly, it lists every credit account you have or have had—credit cards, loans, lines of credit—along with payment history, balances, credit limits, and any missed payments or accounts sent to collection.
In Canada, the two main credit bureaus that maintain these reports are Equifax and TransUnion. They collect information from lenders and creditors who report your behaviour to them. However, these two bureaus operate independently. Some creditors report to one bureau and not the other, which means your Equifax file and TransUnion file can look different. That is why checking both reports is essential—errors or fraudulent accounts may appear on one file but not the other.
How to Get Your Free Credit Report
By law, you can request a free copy of your credit report from both Equifax and TransUnion at least once a year. You have three main options for requesting your report: online, by phone, or by mail.
Online Access (Fastest Option)
Both Equifax and TransUnion offer online portals where you can access your credit report instantly, free of charge. You will need to create an account and verify your identity using personal information such as your SIN, date of birth, and address history. This method is the quickest and gives you instant access to your complete report.
- Equifax: Visit equifax.ca and use their online tool to request your report
- TransUnion: Visit transunion.ca and use their consumer disclosure portal
- You may need to answer security questions to verify your identity
By Phone
If you prefer to request your report by phone, both bureaus have automated telephone services available during business hours.
- Equifax: 1-800-465-7166 (automated telephone service)
- TransUnion: 1-800-663-9980 (automated telephone service, 1-877-713-3393 for Quebec residents)
By Mail
If you are unable to verify your identity online or prefer a printed copy, you can request your report by mail. Download the free request form from each bureau's website, include photocopies of two valid Canadian government-issued ID documents, and mail it to the bureau. Your report will be sent to you by mail within 5 to 15 business days at no cost.
Does Checking Your Own Report Hurt Your Score?
No. Checking your own credit report is considered a soft inquiry, and soft inquiries have zero impact on your credit score. You can check your report as many times as you like without any penalty. In fact, lenders cannot see that you have checked your own report—only you can see your soft inquiries.
What does affect your score is a hard inquiry. A hard inquiry happens when a lender or creditor pulls your report because you have applied for a loan, mortgage, or credit card. Multiple hard inquiries in a short period can signal to lenders that you are seeking a lot of new credit at once, which may temporarily lower your score. But your own self-checks have no such effect.
What to Look For When You Review Your Report
Once you have your credit report in hand, read it carefully from top to bottom. Look for the following:
- Personal information: Verify that your name, date of birth, SIN, and addresses are correct. Outdated addresses should be updated.
- Credit accounts: Check every credit card, loan, and line of credit listed. Do you recognize all of them? Do the account numbers and balances match your records?
- Payment history: Look at whether payments are marked on time or late. A payment marked 30 days late when you paid on time is an error that needs to be disputed.
- Credit limits: Verify that the credit limits shown match your actual card limits. An incorrect limit can artificially inflate your utilization and lower your score.
- Closed accounts: Check that closed accounts show the correct closure date and status.
- Negative items: Collections, bankruptcy, or charge-offs should be noted. These age off your report—most negative items must be removed six years from the date of last activity.
Spotting Errors and How to Dispute Them
Errors on credit reports are more common than most people think. About one in four Canadian credit reports contains at least one mistake. The good news is that you can dispute any error for free, and both Equifax and TransUnion are legally required to investigate your claim within 30 days.
What Counts as a Disputable Error
- Wrong personal information: Misspelled name, incorrect date of birth, outdated address
- Accounts you never opened: A major red flag for identity theft
- Late payments marked incorrectly: A payment you made on time that is showing as 30, 60, or 90 days late
- Wrong credit limits: A limit lower or higher than your actual limit
- Duplicate accounts: The same debt listed twice (under both the original creditor and collection agency)
- Outdated negative information: Negative items that should have aged off your report but are still showing more than six years after the event
How to File a Dispute
Both Equifax and TransUnion allow you to dispute errors online, by phone, or by mail. Online submission is fastest because it creates a dated record of your dispute. You should provide as much supporting documentation as possible—bank statements, payment receipts, loan documents—anything that proves the item on your report is wrong.
- Equifax: File a dispute through their online portal at equifax.ca or download a dispute form to mail. Include copies of supporting documents.
- TransUnion: File a dispute through transunion.ca/DisputeCentre or call 1-800-663-9980 for phone support. Mail-in disputes are also accepted.
When you file a dispute in writing, be specific. Describe exactly which item is wrong, explain what the correct information should be, and attach copies of your supporting documents. The bureau must investigate your claim and respond within 30 days. If they find an error, they will correct it on your report. If they disagree, you have the right to add a written statement to your file explaining your position—Equifax allows up to 400 characters, and TransUnion allows up to 100 words (200 in Saskatchewan).
Identity Theft: Recognizing It and Acting Fast
Your credit report is your first line of defense against identity theft. If someone has stolen your SIN or obtained your personal information through a data breach or lost wallet, they can use it to open credit accounts, take out loans, or even get a job in your name. Your credit report may be the first place you discover this has happened.
Signs of Identity Theft on Your Report
- Accounts you do not recognize
- Credit inquiries from lenders you never contacted
- Collections or charge-offs for accounts you never opened
- Unfamiliar addresses associated with your name
What to Do If You Discover Identity Theft
Act immediately. The sooner you report fraud, the less damage can be done in your name. Here are the steps to take:
- Contact your bank immediately and notify them of the fraud. Ask them to cancel any compromised cards and issue new ones.
- File a police report and keep the case reference number.
- Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 to report the fraud.
- If your SIN may have been used fraudulently, contact Service Canada at 1-866-274-6627 or 1-800-206-7218.
- Place a fraud alert with both Equifax and TransUnion. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before opening new accounts in your name and stays on your file for six years. There is no negative impact on your credit score.
- Contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281 if you believe someone has used your SIN to file taxes or claim benefits.
- Dispute any fraudulent accounts directly with the credit bureaus.
Keep records of everything—police report numbers, dates you called agencies, reference numbers from fraud alerts, and copies of any disputes you file. Monitor your credit reports and bank statements closely for at least six months after the incident to catch any new fraudulent activity.
Making This a Habit
Checking your credit report should be part of your annual financial routine, like reviewing your bank statements or filing taxes. Set a reminder once a year to request your reports from both Equifax and TransUnion. The entire process is free and takes less than an hour online. By catching errors early, you can protect your credit score, catch fraud before it spirals out of control, and ensure that your financial record accurately reflects your payment history and creditworthiness.
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