How to Check Your Credit Report for Free in Canada (Equifax and TransUnion)

Your credit report influences the mortgage rate you get, whether a landlord picks your application, and sometimes even job offers. Yet many Canadians never look at theirs until something goes wrong. Checking it is free, it does not hurt your score, and it takes less time than you think.

Canada has two main credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, and you have the right to see what each of them holds on you. Here is how to get both reports, read them properly, and fix anything that is wrong.

Step 1: Know what you are dealing with

Equifax and TransUnion each keep their own file on you, and the two files are not identical. A lender might check one, the other, or both. That is why you should review both reports, not just one.

Each report contains your personal details, your credit accounts and payment history, public records like bankruptcies, and a list of who has checked your file. Your credit score is a separate number, usually between 300 and 900 in Canada, calculated from the information in the report.

Checking your own report creates what the industry calls a soft inquiry, which has no effect on your score. Only applications for new credit create hard inquiries. So there is no reason to avoid looking.

Step 2: Get your free Equifax report

Equifax offers a free credit report to Canadian consumers directly through its website. Go to equifax.ca and look for the option to get your free credit report. You will need to verify your identity, which usually involves answering questions based on your credit history.

If online verification fails, which happens more often than it should, Equifax also provides reports by mail on request. The mailed version takes longer to arrive, so try the online route first.

Review the report for accounts you do not recognize, incorrect balances, late payments you believe you made on time, and personal details like old addresses that should have been updated.

Step 3: Get your free TransUnion report

TransUnion has its own process at transunion.ca, where Canadian consumers can also request their free credit report. The identity verification works similarly, with questions drawn from your file.

Compare this report against your Equifax one. It is common for the two to differ slightly: a lender might report to only one bureau, or updates can arrive at different times. What you are really hunting for are errors and surprises, not tiny timing differences.

Step 4: Read it the way a lender would

Start with the personal information section and make sure your name, addresses, and employment details are correct. Outdated information is usually harmless, but accounts that are not yours are a red flag for identity fraud.

Next, scan your accounts. Each should show the creditor, the type of account, the balance, the credit limit, and your payment history. Look for late payments that you dispute, accounts marked as collections that you already settled, and any account you simply do not recognize.

Then check the inquiries section. Every hard inquiry should correspond to a credit application you actually made. Inquiries you did not authorize deserve a closer look, as they can indicate someone applied for credit in your name.

Finally, look at public records. Bankruptcies and judgments appear here and have a major effect on your file. Make sure anything listed is accurate and, where applicable, marked as discharged or resolved.

Step 5: Dispute errors the right way

If you find a mistake, dispute it with the bureau that published it, in writing, and include supporting documents. Keep copies of everything you send. A clear, documented dispute might state the account number, what is wrong, and what the correct information is, with a bank statement or payment confirmation attached.

The bureau will investigate, which typically takes around 30 days. It contacts the creditor or information provider to verify the item. If the provider cannot verify it, the bureau must correct or remove it.

Also contact the creditor directly. If a bank reported a late payment in error, getting the bank to correct its records speeds up the fix at both bureaus. Follow up in writing and keep a paper trail until the correction appears on a fresh report.

Step 6: Keep monitoring without paying for it

You do not need a paid subscription to keep an eye on your credit. In Canada, services like Borrowell and Credit Karma offer free credit monitoring, one drawing on Equifax data and the other on TransUnion. They make money from product recommendations, but the monitoring itself costs nothing.

Set a calendar reminder to pull your full reports from both bureaus at least once a year, and more often if you are planning a mortgage application or recovering from identity theft. Regular checks mean errors and fraud get caught early, when they are easiest to fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does checking my own credit report lower my score?

No. When you check your own report, it is recorded as a soft inquiry, which has no effect on your credit score. Only hard inquiries, which happen when you apply for new credit, can affect your score. You can check as often as you like.

How long do negative items stay on a Canadian credit report?

It depends on the item and the province, but as a general rule, most negative information stays on Equifax and TransUnion reports for about six years from the date of last activity. Bankruptcies can remain longer. Positive closed accounts typically stay for a shorter period after closing.

What should I do if I find an account I never opened?

Treat it as possible identity theft. Dispute the account with both bureaus immediately, place fraud alerts on your files with Equifax and TransUnion, review both reports fully for other suspicious items, and consider filing a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police.