Answers about your credit report and score, disputes, fraud, credit freezes, alternative data and privacy.
Credit Reports and Score
Credit is the term used to describe a transaction in which a person receives merchandise, money or services for little or no money up front, but promises to pay an agreed upon amount of money, in an agreed upon amount of time in the future. Usually, the person or company that gives credit to a person charges a fee for providing this service.
A credit report is one of the primary tools that credit grantors use to make fair and accurate decisions on whether or not to grant credit. It is a snapshot of your credit financial history.
TransUnion credit reports may contain the following pieces of information:
Identifying information: consumer name, current and previous addresses, Social Insurance Number, telephone number, date of birth and current and previous employers
Credit history or trade lines: history of bill /debt payments to credit grantors (such as retail stores, banks, finance companies)
Alternative accounts: Rent, utilities and other non-traditional accounts
Public records: items that may affect credit worthiness such as judgments, bankruptcies and registered items
Inquiries: a list of credit grantors and other parties authorized by the consumer and/or by law, which have received a consumer's credit report
Other information, which could include closed-for-cause banking information and/or collections
TransUnion credit reports DO NOT INCLUDE:
Medical history
Major purchases paid in full with cash or cheques
Business/Personal accounts, unless you are personally liable for the debt
Race, creed, colour, ancestry, ethnicity or political affiliations
Income
Criminal records, traffic violations, etc
While TransUnion may furnish credit scores to its clients based on the information contained in an individual credit file, TransUnion does not maintain or update credit score information in the individual consumer's credit files.
Consumer reporting agencies serve both consumers and the business community by providing credit information and risk management tools to help businesses make credit decisions. TransUnion, a consumer reporting agency, facilitates consumer transactions by providing consumer credit reports to its clients, which include banks, credit-card companies, finance companies and other institutions. By their nature, these consumer credit reports must include some personal information about consumers. Accordingly, TransUnion regularly collects, uses and discloses personal credit information of Canadian consumers. Credit grantors and other institutions provide TransUnion with factual information about how their customers pay their bills and other debts. Credit reporting agencies, such as TransUnion, compile and assemble this information, along with public record information, into a "file" for each consumer. In return, credit grantors and authorized institutions, pursuant to the applicable provincial consumer reporting legislation, are able to obtain credit reports about consumers. TransUnion generates millions of credit reports every year to make credit buying fast, easy and safe for qualified applicants. The availability of these reports benefits both businesses and consumers. The credit reports allow our clients to make informed credit decisions and portfolio management decisions based on reliable information and consumers, in turn, benefit from rapid access to credit facilities in order to purchase cars, major appliances and other household items. TransUnion also provides a suite of authentication services to assist its clients in identifying potentially fraudulent transactions. In the course of providing these services, TransUnion may use personal information contained in the credit reports to see if it matches the information that has been provided by an applicant, typically to credit granting institutions or merchants. While preventing fraud is in everybody's best interest, these services may benefit consumers directly if someone is attempting to pose as a consumer by misappropriating the consumer's identity and personal credit information.
The personal information appearing in our credit-reporting system is generally reported to us by credit grantors or other institutions that are responsible for obtaining consumer consent to do so. However, it may also be obtained from other sources permitted by law, including public records, federal and provincial government offices and public registries, or collected directly from individual consumers in response to communications TransUnion has had with them. It is our policy to limit our collection of personal information to include only what is necessary to supply our clients with accurate and up-to-date information so they can make meaningful decisions about consumers. TransUnion periodically reviews the data in its credit-reporting system to ensure that it only contains information relevant to the services we provide.
It doesn't. An inquiry made by an insurance company is considered a non-credit related inquiry or "soft inquiry".
After establishing a relationship with you, companies may periodically review your credit file for account renewals, limit increases and pre-approved offerings. Since these inquiries are for "account review" or monitoring purposes only, they are not disclosed to any other companies viewing your credit file and have no impact on your credit rating. These inquiries are posted for your information.
Provincial and federal laws outline the requirements for what organizations may access your personal credit information. Typically, when you establish a relationship with an organization, they will have you complete an application form or contract that contains a consent statement advising you of how they will use your information. For example, they may inquire with the credit bureau to make a decision about your application and once you have established an account with them, they may report that information to the credit reporting agency and periodically review the status of your account. TransUnion may only provide organizations with access to your information if they have a permissible purpose as defined by provincial consumer reporting legislation. These permissible purposes typically relate to an extension of credit, collection of a debt, employment, tenancy, insurance and the establishment of a business relationship between you and an organization. Finally, you also have the right to access your credit report.
You should review your credit report at least once a year to make sure the information is accurate. If you are planning important financial transactions over the next few months, you should order your report before doing so. This allows for enough time to contact TransUnion regarding any information that you feel needs to be amended or removed.
Establishing a good credit history takes time. If you have steady income and have used the same mailing address for at least one year, you may wish to apply for credit with a local business or department store or for a secured loan or credit card through a financial institution. Paying credit obligations on time will help you develop a good credit history and may enable you to obtain additional credit in the future. When you apply for credit, you may wish to see if the company reports account information to a credit-reporting agency. Companies are not required to report account information but most do. If you are declined credit, find out why. You may be have been declined for various reasons including your not having met with the creditors minimal income requirement or not having been at your current residence or job for the required amount of time. You can overcome these obstacles with time. If you have problems establishing credit, you may wish to ask a person with established credit to co-sign an application for you. This allows the creditor to base the decision on both applicants' credit histories. Please note that a signer and co-signer are equally responsible for repayment of the debt. Payment history on this type of debt may be reflected on both parties' credit reports. Once timely payments have been made on the account, you may again wish to apply for individual credit. Each creditor has different requirements for issuing credit. If you are declined credit, contact the creditor to determine the reason for the decline. When filling out credit applications, it is important to use complete and accurate personal information.
Typically, lenders want to see how you have managed your credit obligations in the past. This helps them determine whether or not they should approve your application for credit and the term of the credit extension. Example - a gold card vs. a platinum card. A credit score based on your TransUnion credit report is one of several tools that lenders use when evaluating your application for credit. It provides a summary of how likely you are to repay a loan as agreed and based on how you have managed your credit obligations in the past. Lenders may also evaluate other information in their loan evaluation process. This may include information you provide on the credit application (income, length of time at current address and other banking relationships you may have).
TransUnion will maintain a record of positive credit information (i.e. accounts that were paid and have no negative history) for a period of twenty (20) years. This retention period benefits most consumers by recognizing their previous involvement with the credit granting industry, even when the consumer has limited or no current credit history. TransUnion may delete credit information reported about you by a data supplier if our relationship with the data supplier comes to an end. The end of a data supplier relationship may impede our ability to maintain a current and accurate credit file and/or carry out our investigation procedures. We delete credit information in these circumstances to ensure that your credit file remains as accurate, complete and up-to-date as possible.
Inquiries: An inquiry by a business purchasing a service from TransUnion will be automatically removed from your file after six (6) years. The system will maintain a minimum of six (6) credit inquiries on your file. However, account review inquiries will only report for one (1) year for all provinces except Quebec where these inquiries will remain for (2) years.
Accounts with Adverse Credit History: These accounts will automatically be removed from your file six (6) years after the date you defaulted on the account.
Debts Satisfied Through an Orderly Payment of Debt or Credit Counselling Program: All debts reported as included in the debt repayment program will be removed from your file two (2) years from the date the program was satisfied or (6) years after the date you defaulted on the account, whichever date comes first.
Consumer Proposal: The consumer proposal and all accounts reported as satisfied through the proposal will be removed from your file three (3) years from the date you satisfied the proposal or (6) years after the date you defaulted on the account, whichever date comes first.
Bankruptcy: TransUnion maintains this information on your file for the maximum length of time permitted by provincial credit reporting legislation. When a bankruptcy is removed from your file, all accounts reported as included in that bankruptcy will also be removed from your file. For a single bankruptcy, TransUnion maintains this information as follows: BC, YK, NWT, NU, AB, SK, MB, NS, NB- six (6) years from the date of discharge ON, QC, PEI & NL- seven (7) years from the date of discharge. If the consumer declares bankruptcy on more than one occasion, each bankruptcy will report on file for fourteen (14) years from the date of discharge of each bankruptcy.
Judgments: TransUnion maintains this information on your file for the maximum length of time permitted by provincial credit reporting legislation TransUnion maintains this information as follows: BC, YK, NWT, NU, AB, SK, MB, NS, NB- six (6) years from the date of judgment ON, QC & NL- seven (7) years from the date of judgment PEI- ten (10) years from the date of judgment Collections These accounts will automatically be removed from your file six (6) years after the date you defaulted on the account with the original creditor.
Consumer Remarks: Fraud alerts and other consumer statements requested to be added by you, are removed from your file (6) years from the date posted.
If an account is paid and does not contain any adverse information, the account will remain on your file for twenty (20) years from the last date of activity. This information assists creditors to understand the type of credit you have managed successfully in the past. If you have paid an account that was not paid in agreement with the contract with the lender, this account will report for six (6) years from the date you first became delinquent on the account.
The creditor is currently reporting the disputed information as a joint obligation. When co-signing for credit, you are equally responsible for repayment of that obligation. Unless you and the creditor agree to remove your name from the account, we will report these debts and subsequent credit information in the names shown on the contract or application. If the creditor agrees to release you from any obligation, please notify us immediately and we will re-investigate the account. A divorce decree does not override an original contract with a creditor. Any credit history established jointly before a divorce can be reported under both names shown on a contract or an application. If you have notified the creditor(s) and they are willing to release you from your obligation, please notify us and we will re-investigate the account.
The creditor's phone numbers are provided on the credit report. You may also contact the Consumer Relations Centre at 1-800-663-9980 if more information is required
TransUnion Canada and TransUnion in the United States or other countries operate their credit databases separately. TransUnion in the United States or other countries do not have access to your TransUnion Canada credit file and cannot transfer this information to a U.S. credit file. Many United States creditors are able to obtain a copy of your Canadian credit report when directed to therefore, when applying for credit in the United States , we recommend that you advice your creditors that you previously have an established credit history in Canada.
TransUnion does not maintain credit records for individuals under the age of majority in their current province of residence. Our file creation rules comply with the age of majority in the individual provinces and territories of Canada as listed below:
Province Age of Majority
Alberta 18
British Columbia 19
Manitoba 18
New Brunswick 19
Newfoundland and Labrador 19
North West Territories 19
Nova Scotia 19
Nunavut 19
Ontario 18
Prince Edward Island 18
Quebec 18
Saskatchewan 18
Yukon Territories 19
A credit score is a statistically derived prediction of an individual's credit risk at a particular point in time. Credit risk is typically defined as the likelihood of an individual becoming seriously delinquent (ie. 3 payments past due or worse) within a 12-24mth period in the future). The score is a three-digit number that lenders use to help them make decisions. A higher score indicates that the individual is a better credit risk to a lender.
*Under legislation, consumers who reside in Ontario and Quebec are entitled to see their credit score and score factors on the consumer disclosure. Therefore, all consumer disclosures issued to Ontario and Quebec residents have a score and score factors integrated as part of the consumer disclosure.*
A credit score is:
An objective summary of the information contained in your credit report at a particular point in time.
A number that lenders use to help them decide whether or not to give any given person a loan or credit card and the risks associated to whether or not they can expect to be paid in accordance with the credit agreement.
An objective and non-biased lending tool used by lenders to provide the consumer with a faster, equitable and more consistent response.
A number that is made up of 6 main categories of information from your credit report:
Payment History (maintaining Credit) -- What is your track record?
Amount of credit you owe (total balances) -- How much is too much?
Utilization of credit -- How close are your balances to their credit limits?
Length of time credit established (Credit Experience) -- How established is yours?
Search for an acquisition of new credit (new accounts and inquiries) -- Are you taking on more debt?
Types of credit established (Credit Mix) -- Is it a healthy mix?
Credit scores are calculated when requested by a lender based on the most current information available on your credit file at that point in time.
No. The only inquiries that would affect your credit score are those initiated by you for specific credit transactions. Also, most scoring models take the appropriate steps to ensure that your score is not lowered because of the multiple inquiries that might occur in a specific time as a result of shopping for the best terms for an auto or home loan. Inquiries have less importance than delinquencies, balances owed and the length of time you have used credit. In general, scores only consider inquiries from the last 12 months. Inquiries are usually more important on your credit score if you have a limited credit history. Also, the score excludes inquiries when:
A company has only verified your identity.
A credit grantor with whom you have a business relationship has reviewed your account with them.
You have received your own personal credit report.
To calculate a score, numerical weights are placed on different aspects of your credit report and a mathematical formula is used to arrive at a final credit score. TransUnion calculates your credit score based on many factors of your credit history and payment behaviour. These many factors may include but are not limited to:
How you are paying your accounts
How much money you currently owe
How long your accounts have been open
What different types of credit you use
How much credit you use compared to the amount of credit you have available
How often and how recently you have applied for credit
The credit industry uses various types of credit scores to assess risk for different types of credit. For example, a creditor may use one type of score when assessing risk for a credit card account and another type of score when assessing risk for a mortgage account.
The effect on your score due to changes made to your TransUnion credit report depends on the nature of the information that was changed, what information is left intact and what other items on your credit report have been updated during the time that the corrections were made.
Some specific reasons why your score may not have improved include:
Your TransUnion credit report included several negative items and some but not all of them were removed. The presence of one or more negative items may still have an adverse impact on your score.
Your TransUnion credit report reflects some positive changes but there may have been new updates to your file that offset them such as higher balances reported on accounts, new account openings or new credit inquiries.
There are several types of credit scores available. Typically, the higher the score the better. Each lender decides what credit score range it considers to be a good credit risk or a poor credit risk. For this reason, the lender is the best source to explain what the credit score it uses means in relation to the final credit decision. After all, they determine the criteria used to extend credit. The credit score is only one component of information evaluated by lenders.
Most scoring models take the appropriate steps to ensure that your score is not lowered because of the multiple inquiries that might occur in a specific time period as a result of shopping for the best terms in an auto or home loan.
Currently, there are some lenders that do use the TransUnion score but most credit lenders use their own scoring tools to make a credit decision. While the overall purpose of credit scores is universal, there are numerous score products in the market today that measure different components of an individual's credit worthiness. Each lender will use his or her own criteria to measure an individual's credit worthiness. The only way to find out about how they measure this is to ask the individual credit lender.
A credit score cannot be calculated because one or more of the following has occurred:
Your credit report does not contain at least one account
A remark on one of your accounts references a person who is deceased
You can use your TransUnion Personal Credit Score to help you learn more about your use of credit and the types of tools lenders are using when making credit decisions. Credit scores are one of the primary tools a lender considers when determining the risks associated to lending to you. Lenders use scores to determine whether or not to grant credit and if so, how much credit and at what rate? Lenders may also access and consider your complete credit report, which can provide further support on a given component of the score that could impact their final decision.
Most lenders will access their own scoring tool(s) to assess a consumer's credit worthiness so they may not be interested or ask for the consumer score you have obtained online. However, you can use the TransUnion Personal Credit Score to help gauge your credit worthiness for future credit applications and needs.
A factor description explains the top reason(s) why your score was calculated as it was. When you receive your TransUnion Personal Credit Score, up to four "factor descriptions" are also delivered.
Lenders use credit scores because it provides a fast and objective measurement in determining the risk associated to lending money.
As a result of using credit scores:
People acquire credit faster
Credit decisions are far more equitable
No, there are literally thousands of score models used in the credit industry that consider different variables for different types of credit.
When examining an applicant's credit report, many lenders find it valuable to have a numeric score based on the credit report itself. Credit scores can give lenders a fast, objective and impartial snapshot of a credit report and can be a helpful tool in making loan approval decisions. As credit granting processes become more efficient, consumers can more quickly gain access to the credit they need.
A common misconception is that every inquiry decreases your credit score a certain number of points. This is not true. While an inquiry is recorded on your personal credit report every time one of your creditors or a potential creditor obtains your credit report for the purposes of assessing creditworthiness, the presence of these types of inquiries has only a small impact on your credit score and certain types of other inquiries (your inquiry to your file and account review inquiries) have absolutely no impact. Inquiries have less importance than delinquencies, balances owed and the length of time you have used credit. In general, scores only consider inquiries from the last 12 months. Inquiries are usually more important on your credit score if you have a limited credit history.
Disputes
There are three ways you can launch a dispute into item(s) on your report:
Online: Click Here to visit our self-service website.
Over the telephone: simply call 1-800-663-9980 to reach one of our TransUnion representatives for assistance with your inquiry.
In writing: Click Here for mailing instructions and TransUnion requirements.
At your request, TransUnion will verify any credit information disputed by you. In order to complete this request, we contact the organization reporting the information and verify its accuracy. We recommend that you not apply for credit while a dispute is pending.
Investigations are typically concluded within 30 days of the date we receive your request. If we cannot verify the disputed information, the item is removed from your credit report or updated as requested. We notify the companies that have made a recent inquiry to your file that an amendment was made and we send you notice, by Canada Post, at the conclusion of the investigation.
If our investigation verifies that the information is reporting correctly, you may add a 100-word explanatory statement in your report to explain your dispute. Exception: 200 words in Saskatchewan.
If our investigation verifies that the information is reporting correctly, you may add a 100-word explanatory statement in your report to explain your dispute. Exception: 200 words in Saskatchewan. TransUnion requires the request in writing accompanied by a minimum of two pieces of acceptable identification. Together these combined pieces must contain your name, current address, date of birth and signature.
This statement is referred to as a consumer statement. This statement should serve as an explanation of item(s) contained in your credit history to companies viewing your credit report. Your statement can be removed at any time at your request otherwise is maintained on your file for 6 years. All information should be supplied, with your signature to:
Correspondence in English: TransUnion Consumer Relations Department P.O. Box 338, LCD1 Hamilton Ontario L8L 7W2
Correspondence in French: Centre de relations aux Consommateurs TransUnion P.O. Box 338, LCD1 Hamilton Ontario L8L 7W2
A score is a numeric evaluation of your credit file made at a particular time (i.e. when an inquiry is made by a creditor). Therefore, a score is not part of your credit report.
As the information in your credit report changes, the score may change. Credit history information in your credit report, such as the number of credit related inquiries, outstanding balances, number of accounts, age of account, etc, is considered when calculating the score. Therefore, we are unable to accept a dispute regarding your credit score. We can however, investigate the information on your credit report if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete. If your report is updated, this may have an effect on your score if the change includes one of the factors mentioned above.
Fraud
If you think you may be a victim of fraud but there has been no reported misuse of your credit or no confirmed misuse of your personal information, you can place a Potential Fraud Alert on your credit file. If, for example, you've lost a purse or wallet, placing a Potential Fraud Alert will tell potential lenders that you may be a victim of fraud and provide them with your contact phone number.
A Potential Fraud Alert can be placed on your credit file.
An alert can also be placed on your Social Insurance Number (SIN).
A Potential Fraud Alert on your credit file will remain in place for 6 years unless you request to have the alert removed earlier.
An alert on your Social Insurance Number (SIN) will remain in place for at least 1 year.
If fraudulent misuse of your personal or credit information is confirmed, please contact us online, by phone or in writing to add a Confirmed Fraud Alert to your credit file.
There are three ways you can add a Fraud Alert to your credit file:
Online: Visit our self-service website (Link:[ https://ocs.transunion.ca/secureocs/#/home]). To add a Fraud Alert online is free.
Over the telephone: call 1-800-663-9980 and speak with an agent to place your alert.
In writing: View additional information to add fraud alert in writing.
There are three ways you can remove or update a Potential Fraud Alert on your credit file:
Online: Click Here to visit our self-service website to add a Fraud Alert for free.
Over the telephone: simply call 1-800-663-9980 to reach one of our TransUnion representatives for assistance.
In writing: Click Here for mailing instructions and TransUnion requirements.
Should you wish to amend the phone number you've provided, please contact us:
By telephone: Simply call 1-800-663-9980 to reach a TransUnion representative who can assist you.
In writing: Click Here for mailing instructions and TransUnion requirements.
Any changes to the statement, such as your contact details, will extend the warning for an additional six years from the updated date.
If a creditor's fraud department, government agency or law enforcement agency referred you to the TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD), you may already know that you are a fraud victim. Otherwise, you may merely suspect that fraud has occurred. If you are the victim of a credit fraud crime, you should take certain steps to protect yourself and your rights.
Common Signs of Fraud
Signs of Fraud can vary but typical indicators of fraud and / or stolen identity include:
One of your creditors informs you that they have received an application for credit with your name, address and/or Social Insurance Number.
Telephone calls or letters state that you have been approved or declined by a creditor to which you never applied.
You no longer receive your credit card statements or you notice pieces of mail are no longer delivered to you.
Your credit card statement includes unusual purchases.
A collection agency informs you they are collecting for a defaulted account that has been established with your identity but not opened by you.
Immediately report the incident to the police, especially if it involves stolen identification. Insist on receiving a complaint number.
Immediately report all stolen cards to the issuers and request new credit cards. Follow up with written notification.
Notify your bank if your cheques were stolen and close your account.
Be prepared to fill out Affidavits of forgery to establish your innocence for banks, credit grantors and recipients of stolen cheques. These institutions are joint victims with you and may suffer a financial loss.
If you believe your Social Insurance Number (SIN) was used fraudulently, you should contact your local Service Canada Office for advice on protecting your SIN. You should take with you all of your personal identification and any documents you may have which pertain to this situation. To identify an office near you and for more information on this subject, you may visit: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/
Get a new card, account number and password if you use an ATM card for banking services. Do not renew your old password.
Notify the postal inspector if you suspect mail theft. Theft of mail is a felony.
Contact TransUnion's Fraud Victim Assistance Department and Equifax Canada to place fraud alerts on your credit files.
Continue to review your credit report at least once per year for unusual activity. You can receive your TransUnion Consumer Disclosure for free using our self-service website. Click Here to visit our self-service website.
As a victim, you are required to take steps to protect your rights. A criminal using another person's identity usually uses the person's name and credit information for a short time. Your credit may have been damaged in the process. With your help and patience, we can help you resolve your situation. To make the process as manageable as possible, we have prepared the following procedures to help you resolve any problems with your creditors, remove inaccurate information from your credit report and prevent any further fraud from occurring. We hope these steps will help clarify your situation.
The following steps will assist you to restore your credit:
Step One: Review your credit report - Review your TransUnion credit file for any unauthorized account and inquiry information. Should any of the information on your credit file not pertain to you, please contact the credit grantor directly and ask about the account or inquiry.
Step Two: Contact Creditors - Explain your situation to the credit grantor and ask for an explanation of the procedures for fraudulent accounts or charges. You may be required to complete an "Affidavit of Fraud" and / or send additional documentation. These may include a police report, a copy of your driver's license and documents from other credit card companies confirming the accounts as fraudulent. Once each creditor acknowledges fraud, ask the creditor to send you and all major credit reporting agencies a letter of confirmation We suggest you keep a log of all phone conversations when dealing with each Credit Card Company and financial institution. Record all dates, names and notes about what you discussed with each company. Follow up with each company and ask about the progress of the investigation. Inquiries determined to be fraudulent are removed upon that determination.
Step Three: Contact Credit Reporting Agency - Contact the other major credit reporting agency, Equifax and request that a protective statement be placed onto your credit file. Be sure to ask how long the statement will remain on your report. Ask if any recent activity appears on your credit file. If so, ask for each name, address and / or telephone number of any unauthorized account or inquiry. In addition, ask to receive a copy of your credit file for you to review. Carefully review the reports for any unauthorized activity and also contact those creditors to ask about the account and / or inquiry. Keep in mind that each of the major credit reporting bureaus may have different procedures. It is best that you contact each company and ask what the procedures are.
Step Four: Contact Financial Institutions - Notify your financial institution for suggestions on how to handle your concerns regarding your existing accounts.
Step Five: Contact Service Canada - If you believe your Social Insurance Number (SIN) was used fraudulently, you should contact your local Service Canada Office for advice on protecting your SIN. You should take with you all of your personal identification and any documents you may have which pertain to this situation. To identify an office near you and for more information on this subject, you may visit: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/
Step Six: Notify TransUnion of Any Fraudulent Accounts Reporting on Your Personal File - If you have received any documentation from credit card companies that were victimized, forward this information to TransUnion. Once your dispute forms and/or documents are received by our office, we contact each creditor involved and verify the account information you are disputing. It may take time for a creditor to investigate your claim that an account is fraudulent. At the completion of our investigation we will send you an updated copy of your credit file, if we have received the appropriate identification, reflecting the results of our investigation.
Step Seven: Order your Credit Report - Order your credit report at least once a year from all the major credit reporting companies. Check for any unauthorized activity. Should any information on your credit file not pertain to you, contact the creditors and question the account and / or inquiry. You can also receive your TransUnion credit report for free every 30 days using our self-service website. Click Here to visit our self-service website.
The statement remains on your file for a period of 6 years from the date reported. The statement requests that creditors viewing your complete report take additional steps to verify your identity before making a decision to extend credit based on the information in your credit report and provides the recipient of the alert with a contact phone number for you. The protective statement is applied to your credit file upon receipt of proper identification.
Yes. The statement requests that creditors evaluating your application take additional steps to ensure that you are the person applying for the credit. Once your identity is confirmed, the credit decision and terms are up to the creditor.
A fraud alert does not prevent changes from being made to your file without your authorization. In certain provinces, the legislation mandates that financial institutions (and other mandated organizations) upon receipt of a fraud warning, take reasonable steps to identify the consumer that they are entering into specific transactions with. These "reasonable steps" may include contacting the consumer by phone or other steps, as determined by each financial institution. If you wish to monitor changes to your credit file, we recommend a visit to our website at www.transunion.ca for more information about TransUnion Interactive, Inc.’s Credit Monitoring product. Please note that there is a fee for enrolling in this service.
By reviewing these simple tips, you can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of fraud:
Do not carry your extra credit cards, social insurance card, birth certificate or passport in your wallet or purse except when necessary. This practice minimizes the amount of information a thief can steal.
Ensure all mail is re-routed if you move or change your mailing address.
Advise creditors of any change of address at the time of your move.
Install a lockable mailbox at your residence to reduce mail theft.
To avoid family fraud, avoid family member's access to your accounts. If you allow access, you have just assumed the debt.
Take credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container.
Never leave your purse or wallet unattended at work or in church, restaurants, health fitness clubs, parties or shopping carts. Never leave your purse or wallet in open view in your car, even when your car is locked.
Destroy all cheques immediately after you close a chequing account. Destroy or keep in a secure place any courtesy cheques that your bank or credit card company sends you.
Do not have your bank send your new cheques to your home address. Tell them that you prefer to pick them up.
Reconcile your cheque and credit card statements in a timely fashion and challenge any purchases you did not make.
Limit the number of credit cards you have and cancel any inactive accounts.
Never give any credit card, bank or social insurance information to anyone by telephone, even if you made the call unless you can positively verify that the call is legitimate.
Minimize exposure of your social insurance and credit card numbers.
Do not allow an institution to use your social insurance number as an identifier for your account.
Try to keep your chequing / saving or credit card account separate from your line of credit. If a fraudster gains access to your account, the losses could be severe.
Avoid easily identifiable PINs (e.g. date of birth).
Safeguard your credit / debit and ATM card receipts. Shred them before discarding.
Scrutinize your utility and subscription bills to ensure that the charges are yours.
Memorize your passwords and personal identification numbers (PIN) so you do not have to write them down. Be aware of your surroundings to ensure no-one is watching you input your PIN.
Keep a list of all your credit accounts and bank accounts in a secure place so you can quickly call the issuers to inform them about missing or stolen cards. Include account numbers, expiration dates and telephone numbers of customer service and fraud departments.
Do not toss pre-approved credit offers in your trash or recycling bin without first tearing them into small pieces or shredding them. Dumpster divers use these offers to order credit cards in your name and mail to their address. Always do the same with other sensitive information like credit card receipts, phone bills and such.
Avoid credit repair scams.
Order your credit report at least once a year from all major credit reporting companies. Check for any unauthorized activity. Should any information not pertaining to you show up on your credit file, contact the creditors and question the account and / or inquiry.
You can also receive your TransUnion credit report for free every 30 days using our self-service website. Click Here to visit our self-service website and order your Consumer Disclosure
TransUnion does not maintain credit records for individuals under the age of majority in their current province of residence. You must be the age of majority in your province in order to place a fraud alert. The age of majority in the individual provinces and territories of Canada is as stated below.
Province Age of Majority:
Alberta 18
British Columbia 19
Manitoba 18
New Brunswick 19
Newfoundland and Labrador 19
North West Territories 19
Nova Scotia 19
Nunavut 19
Ontario 18
Prince Edward Island 18
Quebec 18
Saskatchewan 18
Yukon Territories 19
To change the contact information in your alert, please contact our Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD). Before any changes to the statement can be implemented, TransUnion will need to verify your identity through its standard processes.
Please contact and provide all information to the Fraud Victim Assistance Department through the following phone or mail channels: Correspondence in English TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department 3115 Harvester Road, Suite 201 Burlington ON L7N 3N8 Correspondence in French Service d'aide aux victimes de la fraude TransUnion 3115 Chemin Harvester, Suite 201 Burlington ON L7N 3N8
Print this list of phone numbers to use and keep for reference during your fraud resolution process.
Credit Reporting Agencies Fraud Departments
TransUnion
By Mail: Correspondence in English TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department P.O. Box 338, LCD1 Hamilton Ontario L8L 7W2 Correspondence in French Service d'aide aux victimes de la fraude TransUnion P.O. Box 338, LCD1 Hamilton Ontario L8L 7W2
Correspondence in English:
TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 338, LCD1 Hamilton Ontario L8L 7W2
Correspondence in French:
TransUnion
Centre de relations aux Consommateurs TransUnion
P.O. Box 338, LCD1 Hamilton Ontario L8L 7W2
By Phone:
For English correspondence, please contact us between the hours of 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET (Monday to Friday) at 1-800-663-9980.
For French correspondence, please contact us during the hours of 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET (Monday to Friday) at the following phone number: 1-877-713-3393.
Equifax Credit Information Services Consumer Fraud Division Box 190 Jean Talon Station Montreal, Quebec H1S 2Z2 Phone: 1-800-465-7166 or 514-493-2314
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (formerly known as PhoneBusters) P.O. Box 686 North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8 Phone: 888-495-8501
TransUnion Fraud department cannot flag or change a consumer's credit report without the consumer's knowledge. Therefore, Power of Attorney papers, two pieces of the consumer's identification and two pieces of the Power of Attorney's identification is needed. This is to ensure the Power of Attorney is current and valid. If the appropriate information has been supplied and is correct, the request will be processed and a copy of the file sent to the Power of Attorney's address.
In order to release personal information on a deceased person, TransUnion requires a copy of the Death certificate or the will/certificate of appointment, stating that this person is the next of kin or executor/executrix. The request must also include two pieces of the identification of the next of kin or executor/executrix requesting the file as well as one piece of identification for the deceased that verifies address. If the deceased address is noted on the Death Certificate, TransUnion will accept it as viable address verification for the deceased. Additionally, if the appropriate information has been given, the file will be processed and sent to the executor's/next of kin's address. If the Death Certificate has a Social Insurance Number ("SIN"), the SIN will be added to a High Risk Fraud Alert database to indicate that the SIN is deceased. The SIN number will remain in a protective state indefinitely and a note will also be placed onto the credit report to indicate that the consumer is deceased.
Note: If there is more than one appointee, TransUnion requires identification for each executor/executrix to process the request unless they receive an additional letter of direction that the executor/ executrix can act separately.
For a former resident of Canada TransUnion requires both sides of two pieces of photocopied identification indicating last Canadian Address plus current proof of address from current country of residence for mailing. Together these combined pieces must contain your name, current address, last Canadian address, date of birth and signature.
Do NOT send any original copies of identification.
If submitting a request for more than one consumer in the same envelope, please ensure that the request and identification for each consumer are submitted on separate request forms and separate 8 ½" x 11" sheets of white paper
If you subscribe to credit monitoring products through a TransUnion direct-to- consumer reseller, you may now also receive alerts for TransUnion non-credit related inquiries; in addition to credit-related inquiries. You may request a copy of your TransUnion Consumer Disclosure, which will include all inquiries made to your TransUnion credit file. Examples of non-credit related inquiries (not score impacting): - Rental, employment, insurance, etc.
Authentication
Request for one's own TransUnion Consumer Disclosure
Examples of credit-related inquiries (score impacting): - Application for loan, credit card, mortgage, etc.
Credit Freeze
A credit freeze (also called a security freeze or a credit lock) can be placed by a consumer on their credit file to prevent access to their credit information for specific credit-related purposes set out in legislation.
When a credit freeze is in effect, a consumer reporting agency must not disclose any credit or personal information about the consumer, including any consumer scores, for the following credit‑related purposes:
Entering into a new credit agreement (including for a mortgage for real property);
Increasing credit under an existing agreement;
Entering into a long-term contract for a lease of goods (for example, a car lease) ; or
Entering into a contract involving performance for a service at a distance (for example, a payment plan for a cell phone).
Please note that companies will still be able to access credit information for other purposes even when there is a credit freeze on a credit file.
In Canada, there is no distinction between a credit freeze and a credit lock, as both implement the security freeze rights set out in legislation. Whether it is called a credit freeze or a credit lock, both provide the same type of restriction on parties accessing credit files for certain purposes. TransUnion offers consumers a credit freeze. It is important to know that if you place a TransUnion credit freeze on your credit file, this will only be a freeze on your TransUnion credit file. You will need to contact the other credit assessment agent, Equifax, separately to place a credit freeze on your Equifax credit file (called a credit lock).
The easiest and quickest way to place a credit freeze on your file is through our online site at ocs.transunion.ca.
Alternatively, you may contact TransUnion to request a credit freeze by mail or by phone, but please note that the mail methods can take up to 30 days to implement.
By Phone: 1-800-663-9980
By Mail:
TransUnion Canada
P.O Box 338, LCD1
Hamilton, Ontario L8L 7W2
Please note that you must provide acceptable identification documents by mail so we can verify your identity before placing the freeze on your file.
By placing a credit freeze on your credit file by phone or online at ocs.transunion.ca, it will be added in real time.
If you request a credit freeze by mail, it could take up to 30 days from the date TransUnion receives the request to add the credit freeze. In this case, you would receive correspondence once it has been added.
Please note that you will need to contact the other main credit reporting agency, Equifax, to place a credit freeze on your Equifax credit file.
Beginning July 1, 2027, you will be able to set the date for a temporary suspension of your credit file. If you need to apply for credit, you can lift the credit freeze for the duration you specify and the freeze will be reinstated at expiration of the time frame you specify. During suspension, the freeze is not in effect.
The easiest and quickest way to remove a credit freeze from your file is through our online site at ocs.transunion.ca. Alternatively, you may contact TransUnion to request removal of a credit freeze by mail or by phone, but please note that the mail method can take up to 30 days to implement.
By Phone: 1-800-663-9980
By Mail:
TransUnion Canada
P.O Box 338, LCD1
Hamilton, Ontario L8L 7W2
Please note that you must provide acceptable identification documents by mail so we can verify your identity before terminating the freeze.
By removing a credit freeze on your credit file by phone or online at ocs.transunion.ca, it will be removed in real time.
If you request a credit freeze removal by mail, it could take up to 30 days from the date TransUnion receives the request to remove the credit freeze. In this case, you would receive correspondence once it has been removed.
Please note that you will need to contact the other main credit reporting agency, Equifax, to remove a credit freeze on your Equifax credit file.
Your credit freeze remains on your file until you ask to suspend or terminate it.
No. Once you remove a credit freeze from your credit file, it will remain unfrozen until you submit a request to add a new credit freeze to your credit file. The feature for automatic reinstatement (also called a temporal suspension) will be in place for July 1, 2027.
No. TransUnion Canada does not charge consumers to place, suspend or remove a credit freeze on their credit file.
Unfortunately, TransUnion does not share information with Equifax. You will need to contact them directly to request a credit freeze on your credit file with Equifax.
No, a credit freeze does not affect your credit score. It simply prevents creditors from accessing your credit information for the following purposes:
Entering into a new credit agreement (including for a mortgage for real property);
Increasing credit under an existing agreement;
Entering into a long-term contract for a lease of goods (for example, a car lease) ; or
Entering into a contract involving performance for a service at a distance (for example, a payment plan for a cell phone).
Yes but you will need to temporarily suspend the freeze or remove it before applying. Please note that you will also need to contact the other credit assessment agent, Equifax, to remove a credit freeze on your Equifax credit file.
Blocked inquiries are placed on a credit file when an attempt was made to access the credit file, but no information was returned due to the credit freeze on your file. Blocked inquiries are listed on your consumer disclosure to let you know when TransUnion received a request for your information, but TransUnion was not able to provide any information to that company because a credit freeze was on your credit file.
If you see a company listed as a blocked inquiry and do not recall authorizing that company to attempt to access your information, please contact them directly to identify what authorization they obtained to access your information. Contact numbers are provided for each organization listed that was blocked from accessing the information in your file.
If you have a credit freeze on your TransUnion credit file, your credit file information will not be provided to a company that is trying to access your credit information for the following purposes:
assessing you for new or additional credit (including for a mortgage for real property);
entering into a long-term contract for a least of goods (for example, a car lease)
entering into a contract involving performance for a service at a distance (for example, a payment plan for a cell phone).
Companies accessing your credit file for other reasons will still be able to access your credit information if there is a credit freeze on your file. These exemptions include non-credit related reasons, such as tenancy and insurance underwriting, and account reviews/monitoring.
ID is only required if the request is sent via mail. We require copies of 2 pieces of ID, one must be primary and one can be secondary (Consumer Disclosure | TransUnion Canada). To place, suspend or remove a security freeze by phone or online, your identity will need to be verified through our standard authentication processes
Alternative Data
Alternative accounts are accounts that hold non-traditional financial information -- such as rent payments, buy-now-pay-later services, utility bills. TransUnion may add new data types from time to time.
The following types of alternative accounts may be included:
Rental payments
Buy Now Pay Later [BNPL] services
Utility accounts
Our primary initial focus is on incorporating rental and BNPL data. Additional account types will be included over time as data becomes available from reporting institutions. Data will appear on your file only if it is reported to TransUnion.
Yes, Alternative accounts will only appear on your credit file if you have provided express consent for the information to be reported.
Not necessarily. An alternative account will only appear if the institution that has your account information reports the data to TransUnion.
Currently, alternative account performance does not impact credit score. These accounts may appear on your credit file but they are currently not factored into TransUnion credit score calculations.
To determine whether alternative data is being reported on your credit file, we recommend reviewing your consumer disclosure regularly. While reviewing your file, look for account types under Alternative Accounts section. If you do not see any alternative accounts listed, it may indicate that the account is not being reported to TransUnion.
The Alternative Accounts section contains information reported to TransUnion by institutions with which you have established alternative financial relationships.
Privacy
Yes, TransUnion complies with privacy laws across Canada, both federal and provincial, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), and Québec's Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, sometimes referred to as Law 25.
We facilitate consumer transactions by providing consumer credit information, which is personal information, to our customers, such as banks, credit-card companies, finance companies and other institutions. Credit grantors and other institutions provide TransUnion with factual information about how their customers pay their bills and other debts. Credit reporting agencies, such as TransUnion, compile and assemble this information, along with public record information, into a "file" for each consumer. In return, credit grantors and authorized institutions, pursuant to the applicable provincial consumer reporting legislation, are able to obtain credit reports about consumers.
TransUnion provides detailed information about its privacy practices in its privacy policy which can be viewed here.
Our privacy policy is available here. Consult TransUnion privacy policy.
If you have a complaint about your personal information in your credit file, you can submit your dispute online, by mail, or contact our Consumer Relations Centre using the contact information here. Our Consumer Relations Centre is staffed by trained personnel who can assist with your inquiries. Find our more about Credit File Disputes here
We take the protection of personal information seriously. TransUnion has implemented a security program that is aligned with industry best practices and has appointed a Security Manager to oversee our security program. We have adopted procedures to secure storage of personal information and are committed to working with our customers to protect the security of personal information during any transfer to or from us. We have also instituted a number of safeguards to identify and prevent the fraudulent use of personal credit information. TransUnion uses firewall technology to protect its data from would-be intruders and has implemented other safeguards to secure information such as passwords, encryption, antivirus software and physical security measures.
We have a Privacy Office to oversee our compliance with the privacy principles established by the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, and by provincial privacy and credit reporting legislation.
In most cases, you will not provide your consent directly to TransUnion, but to our customers. We require our customers to obtain consent prior to providing TransUnion with personal information, and prior to accessing the personal information contained in our credit files.
For more information, consult our privacy policy.
(a) Consumer Credit Reports: TransUnion's consumer credit reports may contain the following personal information:
Identifying information: Consumer name, previous name(s), date of birth, Social Insurance Number (including temporary and/or previous Social Insurance Numbers), current and previous addresses and telephone numbers, and current and previous employers;
Credit history: Record of payment history on current and previous bills/debt obligations, including payments on loans, credit cards, lines of credit and mortgages owing to organizations such as retail stores, banks, finance companies and telecommunications companies.
Alternative account history: payment information on alternative accounts such as buy-now-pay-later accounts, utilities, etc.
Public records: Information that may affect creditworthiness, such as judgments, bankruptcies, consumer proposals and registered items;
Inquiries: A list of credit grantors and other parties authorized by the consumer and/or by law that have received all or part of a consumer's credit information. This segment also lists organizations that have received a service from TransUnion where consumer credit information was used but not necessarily disclosed, such as authentication;
Collections: Information about collection matters. This segment may include information about outstanding collections on business accounts if you are personally liable for the debt. It may also include information about outstanding family maintenance support obligations, if permitted by law;
Banking: Information about bank accounts that were closed by an institution for reasons such as empty envelope deposit, NSF cheques or uncollected overdraft charges; and
Remarks: All remarks that have been added to your file, such as a fraud alert or a consumer statement.
(b) Business Credit Reports: Although TransUnion's business reports generally only contain credit information about businesses, they may contain personal information about the principals of the business such as name, address, phone number and percentage ownership in the business.
(c) Identification Requirements We also collect other information you have provided to confirm your identity, which we maintain for quality control and authentication purposes. This information may include your name and contact information, copies of, or information from, your driver's licence, birth certificate, passport, credit cards, copies of bills or correspondence or proof of business ownership. This information is not part of your credit report.
(d) Other information we may also collect:
Contact information, such as your name, email address, telephone number and postal address, for the purposes of responding to your inquiries or requests, communicating with you, and verifying your identity;
Information necessary to process payments for services that you have purchased from us, such as your credit card number and expiry date;
Death records;
Information you have reported to us as lost, stolen and/or misused, such as your Social Insurance Number; and
IP address, Internet Service Provider, location, browser type and version, device type, operating system and telephone number collected from your device.
TransUnion limits the use of personal information to purposes which have been disclosed to the individual by us or our customers and for which appropriate consents have been obtained, or for purposes which are otherwise permitted by law. In connection with our credit reporting services, we do not have direct relationships with individual consumers. Accordingly, we require our customers, including data suppliers, to inform individuals of the purposes for which they are providing personal information to TransUnion, or accessing personal information from TransUnion. We also require them to obtain appropriate consent at the time the information is collected from you and/or prior to its use or disclosure by TransUnion. We also require our customers to limit the use of personal information obtained from TransUnion to purposes that are permitted by law.
TransUnion may share personal information with third parties engaged to assist us in providing services and information to our customers and to individual consumers. These service providers are prohibited from using your personal information for any purpose other than to provide this assistance and are required to protect personal information disclosed by TransUnion and to comply with the general privacy principles described in our Privacy Policy.
TransUnion Canada's credit database is located in Canada.
Please visit our Fraud Victim Resource page here.
Complaints
Credit Disputes:
Our goal is to maintain accurate information on your TransUnion credit report. By law, TransUnion is obligated to verify the accuracy of the information on a credit report that you dispute. If you do not recognize information on your credit report, or believe an item may be inaccurate, you may request an investigation. Only inaccurate information may be removed; negative information that is accurate will stay on your credit report as long as the governing laws allow. Changes on your credit report that occur as the result of an investigation will be made on both your consumer disclosure and your credit report.
TransUnion provides this service to you free of charge, in accordance with applicable legislation. TransUnion will not provide any additional services or treat a consumer differently due to the fact that the consumer has retained and paid a credit repair company. Whether you launch a dispute yourself or through a credit repair company, the outcome of the investigation will be the same. Please also note that the activities of credit repair companies are regulated in some provinces.
There are three ways you can launch a dispute into item(s) or update personal information on your report:
Online: visit our self-service website at ocs.transunion.ca.
Over the telephone: simply call 1-800-663-9980 to reach one of our TransUnion representatives for assistance with your inquiry.
In writing: see the Credit Report Disputes page for mailing instructions and TransUnion requirements.
Complaints:
In accordance with the requirements of the Credit Assessment Agents Act ("Act") and the regulations made thereunder issued by the Autorité des marchés financiers ("AMF"), a complaint constitutes any reproach or dissatisfaction with a practice of TransUnion made by any person for whom TransUnion holds a file.
A complaint under the Act is therefore related to dissatisfaction or difficulties in exercising one or more of the rights granted to consumers, for example:
Access to the consumer version of your TransUnion credit report (a “TransUnion Consumer Disclosure”)
Adding a fraud alert to your credit report
Adding or removing a credit freeze; and
Adding an explanatory note to your credit report (Consumer Statement)
Please note that the following topics will not be considered to be complaints:
An inquiry about a product or service offered by TransUnion;
A billing issue or any other issue related to paid products or services of TransUnion and its affiliates;
An initial request for a copy of your TransUnion Consumer Disclosure;
A request to correct your credit information (a dispute);
Dissatisfaction with the calculation and/or result of a TransUnion credit score; and
General comments about TransUnion.
Online: Fill out the form
Telephone: 1-800-663-9980
Mail: TransUnion of Canada Inc., Quebec Complaints: 3115 Harvester Road, Suite 201, Burlington ON L7N 3N8
E-mail: TUCPrivacy@transunion.com
Depending on the nature of your complaint, copies of the front and back of two pieces of valid government-issued identification and any relevant supporting documentation may be required in order for us to process your complaint.
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