Canadian credit reports, explained
Understand your credit report before a lender does.
Your Equifax and TransUnion reports decide what you're approved for and what you pay. Both are free to check, and checking never hurts your score.
Where does your score sit?
Approximate ranges. Each lender sets its own cut-offs.
The guides
Everything on your report, in orderHow to read your credit report
Personal details, accounts, ratings like R1 and I9, inquiries and public records, decoded line by line.
02Get your report free
Online, by phone or by mail from both bureaus, and which free scores you can get in your province.
03What's a good score?
The ranges lenders look for, what moves your score most, and realistic ways to raise it.
04How long items stay
Late payments, collections, consumer proposals and bankruptcy, with Equifax and TransUnion differences.
05Fix an error
How to dispute wrong information for free, what to send, and where to escalate.
Quick answers
Does checking my own credit report lower my score?
No. Checking your own report or score is a soft inquiry and has no effect on your score. Only hard inquiries, made when a lender reviews an application, can affect it.
Why are my Equifax and TransUnion scores different?
Lenders don't always report to both bureaus, the bureaus update on different schedules, and each uses its own scoring model. Differences of several dozen points are common.
How often should I check my credit report?
At least once a year, and before applying for a mortgage or car loan. Checking more often helps catch identity theft early.
Can a company remove negative items from my report?
Not if the information is accurate. Credit repair companies that promise to remove accurate negative items for a fee are a common scam. You can dispute genuine errors yourself for free.