Contact Information and Credit Score Forms
Did you know you can check your credit score for free? You can get instant copies online by paying a fee. However, a government mandate on privacy means you can check your credit score for free, you just have to jump through some hoops and send in some documents. It's not easy to find all the necessary information so we've compiled the forms, instructions, and lists here at DiscussEconomics for your review.
To get a free copy you will have to mail in a form and some ID or fax it in. You can also phone in and have jump through the hoops that way. There is no online option for free, however, like I mentioned, you can pay to reduce the wait time and view your reports immediately through the online function.
If you don't mind the wait and just want your free credit report then follow these steps.
For Equifax:
Visit their contact page and note the right hand side details. You'll have to download this form and fill in the details.
From Equifax Canada on additional details required when filling in the form:
* You must provide copies of 2 pieces of government-issued identification (such as a driver's license, health card, birth certificate or passport). If neither piece of government-issued identification shows your current home address, you must also submit a copy of an additional document that shows your address (such as a recent telephone or utilities bill, or a bank or credit card statement). You may black out transaction details on a bill or statement, as long the copy clearly shows the date of the document, the sender, your name and address, and your account number.
** Equifax will use the information you provide to confirm your identity and current home address. We will cross-reference the information you provide with our own records. If any part of your name, date of birth or address in our records is different from the information you provide, we will update our records to reflect the correct information. The information you provide to confirm your identity will not be used to update or change your financial or credit history information.
If you provide your Social Insurance Number, we will cross-reference it with our records to ensure that we disclose the correct information to you. Knowing your SIN helps us avoid delays and confusion in case another individual's identifying information (such as name and address) is similar to your own.
We will keep a copy of the information you provide to demonstrate that we complied with our obligation to obtain reasonable identification from you.
Mail or fax in your information to:
Mail: National Consumer Relations
P. O. Box 190, Station Jean-Talon
Montreal, Quebec H1S 2Z2Fax: 514-355-8502
Equifax will send a copy of your credit report by mail to your confirmed home address. You should receive it within 5 to 10 days.
For TransUnion Canada:
Visit their Consumer Disclosure page and follow the instructions that say, "download the Consumer Request form". Just like Equifax, fill it in, and send it back.
Make sure the following info is included:
Make sure all of the following information is filled out:
* Name*
* Current address*
*Previous address (*if less than two years at current address)
*Date of birth*
* Social Insurance Number (optional, don't include it but it may help identify you if you have a common name)
* Employment information (optional)
* Telephone number (optional)
* Signature**Required information
Further details on the Transunion page. Mail your request to them:
All provinces except Quebec:
TransUnion Consumer Relations Department
P.O. Box 338, LCD1
Hamilton, ON, L8L 7W2Quebec residents
Centre De Relations Aux Consommateurs TransUnion
1 Place Laval Ouest
Suite 370
Laval, Quebec
H7N 1A1
Wait 1-2 weeks and check your score in the mail. There you have it, easy steps on how to browse your credit score and ensure things are up-to-date.
Remember this article does not discuss how you are to dispute errors, but it is your right to do so. You have the right to dispute any discrepancies by immediately notifying the credit reporting agency. Also, it doesn't deal with the possibility of identity theft.
To have your credit report monitored full time (a paid feature) visit either Equifax or Transunion.
[tags]equifax, credit, credit score, fico, transunion[/tags]
Other Economics Articles
- « Important Reminder on TFSA Contributions – Can’t Recontribute
- » Gearing up for the new semester in Micro and Macro
Comments ( 2 )
Thanks for the compilation. Certainly useful.
This is a good tutorial, particularly if you can afford the convenience of waiting a couple of weeks. I would say in defence of websites that offer online tools (since I am affiliated with one) that you can instantly view your credit score online for free by 1) using a site that offers a free trial membership, 2) viewing and printing your report as soon as you create an account, and 3) cancelling your free trial immediately after viewing your report. I have done the mail-in thing and the online thing and I think either way is great, but sometimes we don't have the luxury of waiting when faced with a critical credit decision.