It is recommended that you check your credit report every year to ensure your information is up to date, that your information is correct, and most importantly to ensure you haven’t been the victim of identity fraud. However, most Canadians still haven’t checked their credit report, even once. Part of this problem stems from the fact that many simply don’t know how to do it. Americans have it easy: the information is everywhere. However, for those of us North of the border the information isn’t as widely known. Well, here’s what you have to do to get your credit report if you live in Canada. If you haven’t looked at yours in a year or longer, please use this post as your inspiration to get it done! It can save you an enormous hassle in the future.

The two parts of your credit report are the report itself, and the score. There are a number of ways to get your report, but the most common are by mail and online. If you live in Nova Scotia, due to provincial law the only way you can get your credit report is by mail. To get your report online, all you have to do is visit the website of one of the three credit reporting agencies and order your score online. In Canada, these are Equifax Canada, Transunion Canada and Northern Credit Bureaus Inc. In order to get your credit report online, the agencies will charge you a fee, but it is instant as opposed to sending it by mail. If you want your credit score, you must order this online as it is not available via post. The credit bureaus charge an extra fee as well for your credit score: Equifax charges $23.95 Canadian for your report and score online, TransUnion charges $22.90 Canadian and Northern Credit Bureaus, well, I couldn’t actually find their price. Some of the links on their website weren’t working either, and it looks like it was designed in 1997, so I would recommend that you stick with one of the other two bureaus.

If you live in Nova Scotia, unfortunately it’s impossible for you to get your credit score since you can’t order it online, which is the only avenue. You’ll just have to move to New Brunswick or PEI.

If all you’re looking for is your free credit report, keep in mind that you will have to provide copies of two pieces of government-issued ID, and remember that in a number of provinces, such as Ontario, a Health Card is not acceptable ID.

The best place to get the free credit report is from Equifax or Transunion. The link for the forms for equifax can be found here.

Here is the contact information for the three credit bureaus:

Equifax Canada

National Consumer Relations
P.O. box 190, Station Jean-Talon,
Montreal, Quebec  H1S 2Z2
Tel. (toll-free): 1-800-465-7166
Fax: (514) 355-8502
E-mail: consumer.relations@equifax.com

TransUnion Canada

All provinces except Quebec:
Consumer Relations Centre
P.O. Box 338 LCD 1
Hamilton, Ontario  L8L 7W2
Tel: 1-866-525-0262
Fax: (905) 527-0401

For Quebec Residents:
TransUnion (Echo Group)
1 Place Laval
Suite 370
Laval, Quebec  H7N 1A1
Tel: 1-877-713-3393
Fax: (905) 527-0401

Northern Credit Bureaus Inc.

336 Rideau boulevard
Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec  J9X 1P2
Fax (toll-free): 1-800-646-5876

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