Practical Canadian guides — Credit
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Find my debt relief options13 articles
Credit scores in Canada: understand the number and the report
Your credit score is a useful signal, but it is not a verdict on your finances. The account information behind it is usually the better place to start.
Read the guide SITUATIONWhat is a good credit score in Canada?
A score chart can put a number in context. It cannot tell you whether a specific lender will approve you or whether the borrowing would be affordable.
Read the guide SITUATIONHow to read a Canadian credit report
You do not need to interpret every code at once. Start with whether the report describes you and your accounts accurately.
Read the guide SITUATIONHow to get a free credit report in Canada
You do not have to buy monitoring to start checking your credit history. Make sure the product you select is the free report you intended to request.
Read the guide COMPARISONHard vs soft credit checks in Canada
Before giving permission for a credit check, ask what kind of check is planned and what action triggers it.
Compare the options SITUATIONHow to build credit from scratch in Canada
Starting a credit history does not require starting with a large balance. Focus on an account you understand and a payment routine you can maintain.
Read the guide SITUATIONCredit utilization ratio: calculate it and understand the limits
Credit utilization describes how much of an available revolving limit you are using. The arithmetic is simple; the effect on a particular score is not a fixed equation.
Read the guide SITUATIONHow to dispute a credit report error in Canada
A clear dispute identifies the entry, explains the issue and supports the correction. You do not need to buy a promise that someone can erase your history.
Read the guide SITUATIONWhy did my credit score drop? A practical review checklist
A lower number can be unsettling. Start with the evidence you can check instead of guessing at the cause or paying for an instant fix.
Read the guide REVIEWEquifax Canada review: reports, scores and the free-access route
If you are searching for Equifax, first decide whether you need a report, account support, a correction or a monitoring product. Those are different tasks.
Read our review REVIEWTransUnion Canada review: Consumer Disclosure and report guidance
TransUnion calls its free consumer report a Consumer Disclosure. Knowing that product name can help you avoid confusing it with a paid monitoring offer.
Read our review COMPARISONEquifax vs TransUnion in Canada: compare the reports, not just the scores
Two reports are not a contest to find the more flattering number. They are two records to understand and check.
Compare the options SITUATIONHow a consumer proposal affects your credit in Canada
Completing a proposal is a milestone, but a credit report follows its own reporting rules. Keep the completion documents, check both bureaus and focus on the specific information that needs attention.
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General information, not personal advice.