How Do I Get My Free Credit Report in Canada?

In Canada, there are a number of ways to check your credit report for free. The first two options below won’t cost you a thing, while the third one does have a fee. Both Equifax and TransUnion—the two credit reporting agencies in Canada—let you request a free copy of your credit report.

You can access your credit reports from both credit bureaus online for free. If you aren’t able to answer all of their security, they can also mail you a copy. If you’re interested in your credit score, Equifax now provides this online for free. However, TransUnion charges for this. In both cases, the credit score they provide you with is not your real credit score. It’s just an estimate of your credit score using a different algorithm. It seems as though your real credit score is a closely guarded secret. You can possibly find out what it is, though, from your bank when you apply for credit or opening a new account. There are also free credit score estimators online that can give you a general idea of where you stand.

It’s a good idea to get your report from both Equifax and TransUnion, since the details in each one could be quite different.

Second Option
Get Your Free Credit Report by Phone

Another way to get your free credit report is by picking up the phone and calling each of the credit bureaus’ toll-free numbers. When you call, you’ll go through a few automated questions to confirm your identity. Once that’s done, your credit report will be sent to you by mail. It usually takes up to 3 weeks to arrive, so just keep an eye on your mailbox.

You can get started by calling the numbers listed below:

• Equifax  –  1-800-465-7166 (Automated Telephone Service)
• TransUnion  –  1-800-663-9980 (Automated Telephone Service)

What If Your Credit Report Request Is Rejected?

If something doesn’t go quite right while you’re using the automated phone system—like if you make a small mistake or your info doesn’t exactly match what the credit bureau has on file—your request might not go through, and your report won’t be sent. But don’t worry. It doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your credit. Just try the next option below and you should be able to get your credit report.

Understanding Your Credit Report

If you receive your credit report in the mail, it’ll come with notes and explanations to help you make sense of everything you’re seeing. It should also tell you what to do if you spot a mistake or if something doesn’t look quite right.

If you’d like to learn even more, the Government of Canada has a great guide called Understanding Your Credit Report and Credit Score. It’s packed with useful info, like how the credit system works in Canada and how long different things stay on your report.

Another Way to Get an Estimate of Your Credit Score

As previously mentioned, you can get a credit score estimate from Equifax that is calculated from the data found on your Equifax credit report. It’s possible that your TransUnion credit report will be a little different from your Equifax report, but you have to pay for their estimate of your credit score based on the data they’ve collected. Another way to get a free estimate of your credit score is to use this credit score estimator. You can then play around with it and find out how different things will effect your score. You can also learn more about how credit scores are calculated here.