Why is it so important to protect your credit report? Well, your credit report is vulnerable to mistakes but also to fraud. The worst part of it is that you only find about the problem when you apply for a credit product like a personal loan, mortgage, and even a rental application for an apartment.
A significant sign of a problem on your credit report is a rejected loan application.
When it comes to accessing different financial credit products, your credit scores will generally play a pretty big role in your ability to get approved. Credit scores and credit reports are not the same thing.
Credit scores are calculated based on the information in your credit report, so it’s important to check your credit report and ensure that all the information is correct and isn’t negatively affecting your credit score.
A credit report is a detailed record of someone’s credit history and is prepared by a credit bureau. In Canada, one of two major credit bureaus (aka credit-reporting agencies) maintains your credit report. It could either be Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada.
You will officially have a credit report once you apply for credit or borrow money for the first time. Your credit report includes pertinent financial information such as:
As mentioned, TransUnion and Equifax are the two credit bureaus in Canada that create your credit reports. It’s important to note that the credit report created by both credit bureaus can vary as not all lenders and creditors report to both credit bureaus. As such, the information you find in your TransUnion credit report can be different than the information in your Equifax report.
In Canada, you can get your credit report for free online or by mail. If you want a free copy, you get it from Equifax or TransUnion. If you want to read it to check for mistakes, you can also get it from Compare Hub. At the same time, you can check your credit score for free.
To get your credit report online, you simply need to create an account online at Equifax or Compare Hub. On the other hand, you can get your credit report by mail by filling out this “Consumer Request for Free Credit Report” form and mailing it to the Equifax National Consumer Relations Office.
With TransUnion, you get your credit report online by subscribing to their credit monitoring service for a fee.
If you want to get your credit report for free, you can request a copy of your Consumer Disclosure, which is a document that compiles all your credit report information according to the consumer reporting legislation. You can access your Consumer Disclosure online once a month by creating an account online.
You can also request a copy by visiting a TransUnion office in person or by filling out this “Consumer Request” form and mailing it out to the TransUnion Consumer Relations Department.
On occasion your credit bureau may make a mistake on your credit report, if this happens it is extremely important that you get it corrected as soon as possible. Errors can often negatively affect your credit history and prevent you from being able to get approved for different credit products.
Here are 5 things you should consider when you want a correction done on your report.
The best way to protect yourself from identity theft is to always be aware of what is happening with your accounts by checking your credit report. Again, it doesn’t have to cost you anything to check the report.
Double-check to make sure that no one has opened new credit accounts under your name without your permission. A credit account is a debt, whether it is revolving debt like a credit card or a secured debt like a mortgage. If it is under your name you are responsible for it.
Keep an eye out for suspicious transactions and follow up with your bank, lender or credit card company should you have any concerns or questions.
If you are currently dealing with identity fraud and have no idea what to do or where to start you need to follow these steps in order to start dealing with the situation right away.
Unfortunately, once you’ve become the victim of fraud the process to sort everything out is often long and difficult. This is why it is so important that you get in contact with the right people and start dealing with the issues right away.
Prevention is the best way to deal with fraud and protect your credit report. By including the maintenance of your credit accounts into your daily routine, you’ll always know what’s going on and can take action right away should you come across anything suspicious.
Caitlin Wood is the Editor-in-Chief at Loans Canada and specializes in personal finance. She is a graduate of Dawson College and Concordia University and has been working in the personal finance industry for over eight years. Caitlin has covered various subjects such as debt, credit, and loans. Her work has been published on Zoocasa, GoDaddy, and deBanked. She believes that education and knowledge are the two most important factors in the creation of healthy financial habits. She also believes that openly discussing money and credit, and the responsibilities that come with them can lead to better decisions and a greater sense of financial security.
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