Get your free report
Check what is wrong and what proof you have.
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Use the two official free-report routes
Start on the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada page, which links to the free report offered by each bureau. This reduces the chance of mistaking a paid monitoring offer or an imitation site for the report you meant to request. Identity verification may be necessary, but enter that information only in the bureau’s verified process.
| Bureau | Free product | Ways to request | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equifax Canada | Free Equifax credit report | Online, mail, phone and eligible in-person options | A free report is different from a paid monitoring plan. |
| TransUnion Canada | Consumer Disclosure | Online, mail, phone and eligible in-person options | The Consumer Disclosure is the free report; the advertised monitoring product may have a monthly fee. |
Know which product you are choosing
Read the key facts before you choose.
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Know which product you are choosing
A credit report is the account-history record. A credit score is a number calculated from report information. Monitoring is a separate service that may include alerts, repeated score access or subscription terms. The free report is enough to begin checking names, accounts, balances, payment history, collections and enquiries.
| Product | Useful for | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Credit report | Reviewing the information in your credit file | That you selected the free report or Consumer Disclosure |
| Credit score | Seeing a numerical risk indicator | Which bureau and scoring model supplied it |
| Credit monitoring | Receiving alerts or repeated updates | Price, renewal terms and cancellation method |
If online identity verification fails
Read the key facts before you choose.
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If online identity verification fails
Do not keep changing personal details until something works. Use the bureau’s official phone or mail instructions, record the error for your own reference and confirm which identification documents that channel accepts. Never send a password, Social Insurance Number or identity document through a third-party lead form. DebtHelpers cannot unlock an Equifax or TransUnion account.
What looks wrong?
Check what is wrong and what proof you have.
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Run a 10-minute check on both reports
Save each report with its bureau and date, then review the same five items in order: personal information, accounts you recognize, balances and payment status, collections, and enquiries. Equifax and TransUnion may hold different information, so a clean result from one bureau does not prove the other file is identical. FCAC recommends checking both when looking for errors or possible fraud.
- Confirm your name, current address and previous identifying details.
- Flag accounts, collections or enquiries you do not recognize.
- Compare the reported balance, status and last-updated date with your records.
- Write down the exact item and correction you believe is needed.
- Keep the unredacted reports in a secure location; do not email them to DebtHelpers.
Get your free report
Check what is wrong and what proof you have.
Read the full details
Will the free report include a credit score?
Do not assume the report and score are bundled the same way everywhere. FCAC says Equifax provides free online score access across Canada. TransUnion includes a free score and score factors with the Consumer Disclosure for residents of Ontario and Quebec. Other companies may offer a score while asking you to enrol in a paid service, so read the terms before accepting.
Choose the next action from what you find
Read the key facts before you choose.
Read the full details
Choose the next action from what you find
If the file is accurate and your concern is affordability, repeatedly checking the report will not change the payment problem. If an entry is wrong, document and dispute that specific entry. If you suspect identity theft, follow the bureau and government fraud steps. If payments are becoming difficult, DebtHelpers can collect a short situation summary and help you explore a relevant next step without taking your credit report or account numbers.
What to have ready
- Open the free-report links from the Government of Canada page.
- Get a report from both Equifax and TransUnion.
- Confirm any price, renewal and cancellation terms before accepting an added service.
- Save each report with the bureau name and date in a secure place.
- Record the exact account or enquiry that needs follow-up.
You do not need account numbers, your SIN, bank passwords, or files to start.
Does checking my own credit report hurt my score?
FCAC says checking your own credit report or score does not affect your credit rating. That is different from a lender making a hard enquiry as part of a credit application.