Credit scores play a key role in your ability to access a variety of financial products and programs, including personal loans, mortgages, and credit cards. That’s why it’s important to check your credit scores, which you can do by requesting a copy of your credit report and score from one of the two credit bureaus in Canada: TransUnion, or Equifax.
With TransUnion, you can access your credit report in a few different ways, all of which require you to provide certain pieces of information to verify your identity. The information provided will help ensure that no one else is trying to unlawfully access your information and potentially steal your identity.
But what if TransUnion cannot verify your identity when you request your credit report? Why would this happen? Let’s take a look at what’s required to obtain your credit report and potential reasons why TransUnion may be unable to verify your identity.
Key Points
- To access your TransUnion credit report, you’ll need to provide the credit bureau with information that will help them verify your identity.
- However, there may be cases in which TransUnion may be unable to verify your identity.
- This could happen for many reasons, including inaccurate information, a limited credit history, or a credit alert on your file, among other things.
- If TransUnion cannot verify your identity, you may want to double-check your information, speak with customer service, or remove any applicable credit freezes or fraud alerts.
Where Can You Get Your Credit Report?
You can obtain a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus and third-party providers.
Credit Bureaus
A copy of your credit report can be ordered from Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada by mail, fax, telephone, or online.
Third-Party Providers
Some companies are available that provide credit scores for free, while others may require a sign-up process for a paid service for you to see your credit score. These companies include Credit Karma, Borrowell, and Credit Verify, to name a few.
Learn more: How To Get A Free Credit Report In Canada
How Do You Get Your Credit Report With TransUnion?
To get your credit report directly through TransUnion, follow these steps:
Step 1. Provide Your Personal Information
You’ll need to fill out your personal profile and provide details such as your name, address, phone number, email address, and date of birth. You also have the option to provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN) to help TransUnion verify your identity.
Step 2. Create an account
Once you’ve filled out all your personal information, you’ll be asked to create an account with a username and password.
Step 3. Verify Your Identity
You’ll be required to verify your identity to prevent anyone else from impersonating you and attempting to access your information. You may be asked for more information, including your SIN, driver’s license number, or bank account information. You’ll also be sent an email to verify your identity and complete your enrollment.
Once you’ve completed the process, your account will be created, and you’ll be able to log in and access your account.
Why Is TransUnion Unable To Verify Your Identity?
There are a handful of reasons why TransUnion may not have been able to verify your identity:
You May Have Answered An Identity Confirmation Question Incorrectly
TransUnion will block users who do not answer the identity authentication questions correctly for security purposes. That way, anyone with nefarious intentions will be prevented from repeatedly returning until they can guess the right answers.
You’re Not The Primary Owner
Perhaps you’re only a co-signer on an account or own the account jointly with someone else. If you don’t make payments on the account, you may not be familiar with it and may not have the information available to answer questions about the account correctly.
Your Information Is Tied With Another Person
It’s possible that your credit information may be linked with the information of someone else whose identification information is similar to yours. This is more likely to happen between family members who share the same name and address, but it may also happen with two unrelated individuals who have very similar names and SINs.
You Made A Mistake On Your Profile
Failure to fill out your profile accurately will likely result in TransUnion being unable to verify your identity. For instance, you might make a mistake filling out your name, address, or birth date.
Your Records Aren’t Yet Updated
If recent updates to your credit profile, such as name or address changes, haven’t been recorded yet, TransUnion may not yet have the right information to verify your identity.
You Have A Thin Credit Profile
If you only have a few short months’ worth of credit information, this might not be enough for the credit bureau to accurately identify you.
You Placed A Credit Alert
A third-party provider may not be able to verify your identity if you placed an alert on your TransUnion account. This will prevent the credit bureau from verifying your identity.
Learn more: What Is Credit Fraud Alert?
What Happens If TransUnion Cannot Verify My Identity?
If TransUnion fails to verify your identify, the following may happen:
- Denied Access – TransUnion may deny access to your credit report.
- Request For More Documentation – TransUnion may ask you to submit additional documents to prove your identity through a secure process. These may include a passport, driver’s license, SIN card, bank statement, or utility bill.
- Temporary Security Hold – To protect you in case someone else is impersonating you, TransUnion may place a hold on your credit file until they can verify your identity.
- Further Instructions Provided – TransUnion may send you instructions via email or mail about what to do next.
What Should I Do If TransUnion Is Unable To Verify My Identity?
If TransUnion cannot verify your identity, consider the following measures:
- Double-Check Your Information – It’s possible that you may have entered your information incorrectly. If that’s the case, simply re-enter your information carefully to make sure there are no typos or mistakes.
- Reach Out To TransUnion – If you’ve ensured that all information is accurate, call TransUnion’s customer service department at 1-800-663-9980 for help. You’ll likely need to verify your identity verbally.
- Submit Requested Documentation – Follow TransUnion’s instructions on submitting additional documentation, whether by email, fax, or mail.
- Remove Any Credit Freezes or Fraud Alerts – If you set up a fraud alert or credit freeze, you may need to remove it to allow your identity to be verified.
Final Thoughts
Getting a hold of your credit report on a regular basis is a great way to make sure all the information on your report is true and accurate. It also provides you with the opportunity to spot any potential signs of identity theft. If you can’t access your credit report or score because TransUnion is unable to verify your identity, do some investigating to find out why, and rectify it.
