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SITUATION GUIDE

How 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.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Check personal details first, then each account’s ownership, balance, payment history and status. Review collections and enquiries for unfamiliar entries. Record the exact item you believe is wrong and keep supporting documents for a dispute.

Get help understanding a report issue

First check that it is your information

A report may include current and previous identifying details. Look for names or addresses you do not recognize before focusing on the score. Note what is wrong and avoid circulating an unredacted report by email or through an ordinary contact form. It contains more sensitive information than a professional needs to understand an initial question.

Read one account at a time

Make a short working list: provider, ownership, reported balance, status and latest update. Compare the entry with your own records for the same period. A recent payment may not appear immediately, so the dates matter. For unfamiliar codes, use the report’s own legend or ask the bureau instead of assuming a code has the same meaning in every format.

Mark an unfamiliar enquiry or collection separately

An unfamiliar name does not by itself prove fraud; a creditor or authorized business may appear under a legal name you do not know. Verify the identity through reliable contact details. If you still cannot account for it, ask the bureau about its dispute or fraud process and keep the reference number. Do not contact a number from an unverified text message.

Turn observations into a specific request

“My score is wrong” is difficult to investigate. “This account is not mine” or “This payment is shown late, but here is the dated receipt” identifies a testable issue. FCAC explains that you can challenge errors for free. Keep copies of what you submit and check the response against the original issue, not just whether the score moved.

Prepare for a conversation

  • A dated report from the bureau involved.
  • The exact account or enquiry you are concerned about.
  • The correction you believe is needed.
  • Documents that support that correction, kept for a secure channel.

You do not need account numbers, a SIN, banking credentials or uploaded documents to start our enquiry.

Should I upload my report into this form?

No. You can describe the type of issue without uploading a report, account number or identity documents. The preview is not a bureau dispute portal and does not submit corrections.

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Get help understanding a report issue

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