Canadian Credit Reporting Resources
General educational material on Canadian credit reporting rights. This page provides legal information, not legal advice for your specific file.
How to Obtain Your Free Credit Disclosure
Every Canadian consumer is entitled, at no cost, to receive their full credit file disclosure from each of the two major national credit reporting agencies. This is distinct from a paid "credit score" product.
Equifax Canada
- Request your free report by mail or telephone (not the paid online product).
- Provide identity verification: full name, date of birth, current and prior addresses, and Social Insurance Number if requested.
- Allow several weeks for delivery by mail.
- Review every tradeline, inquiry and personal identifier line for accuracy.
TransUnion Canada
- Submit a free disclosure request through TransUnion's designated consumer request channel (mail, phone or online form for the free report, not the paid subscription).
- Complete identity verification as requested.
- Reports are typically mailed to your address on file.
- Compare the file against your own records of accounts, balances and payment history.
Statutory Retention Periods
Most provinces limit how long adverse credit information may appear on a consumer report, commonly six years from the date of the underlying default, bankruptcy discharge, or judgment, though the precise period and triggering event vary by information type and jurisdiction. Some categories, such as bankruptcies, may have longer periods or different counting rules depending on the number of prior bankruptcies. Always confirm the specific rule that applies to your province.
Provincial and Territorial Consumer Reporting Legislation
| Province / Territory | Governing Legislation |
|---|---|
| Ontario | Consumer Reporting Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.33 |
| British Columbia | Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, S.B.C. 2004, c. 2, Part 6 |
| Alberta | Consumer Protection Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. C-26.3 (Part 8, credit and personal reports) |
| Manitoba | The Consumer Protection Act, C.C.S.M. c. C200, Part IX (Credit Reporting Agencies) |
| Saskatchewan | Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act, S.S. 2013, c. C-30.2 |
| Quebec | Consumer Protection Act, CQLR c. P-40.1 (Division on credit reporting agencies) and Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector |
| New Brunswick | Consumer Reporting Agencies Act, R.S.N.B. 2011, c. 110 |
| Nova Scotia | Consumer Reporting Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 93 |
| Prince Edward Island | Consumer Reporting Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. C-23 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act, S.N.L. 2009, c. C-31.1 |
| Yukon | Consumer Protection Act, R.S.Y. 2002, c. 40 |
| Northwest Territories | Consumer Protection Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. C-17 |
| Nunavut | Consumer Protection Act (R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. C-17, as duplicated for Nunavut) |
| Federal | Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), S.C. 2000, c. 5 |
Legislation is subject to amendment. This table is provided for general orientation only and should not be relied upon as a current, complete or authoritative statement of the law in any jurisdiction.
What To Do About Collection Calls
- Provincial collection agency legislation restricts the frequency, timing and manner of contact a collection agency may make with a consumer.
- You may request, in writing, that a collection agency communicate with you only in writing or through your lawyer once you are represented.
- You are entitled to ask a collector to verify the debt, including the original creditor, the amount claimed and the basis for the claim.
- Keep a written log of calls, including date, time, caller and content, in case a complaint to a provincial regulator becomes necessary.
- Do not acknowledge or make a partial payment on a debt you believe may be statute-barred or inaccurate without first understanding the legal consequences of doing so, as it can restart a limitation period in some provinces.
Want Your File Reviewed Against These Rules?
We apply this legislation directly to your credit disclosures.