How to Check Your Credit in Canada

Knowing your credit rating is essential to your financial well-being, for applying for loans, for mortgages and more. A credit rating is an indicator of how well you pay off existing bills and loans, according to CIBC.com. Canadians have the right to access their credit reports for free by mail or in person, or for a fee over the phone or Internet from Canada's two main credit bureaus, TransUnion and Equifax.

Instructions

1

Visit the home page of either of Canada's main credit bureaus, Equifax.com or TransUnion.ca. Both websites have a link to a printable document you will need to request your free credit report. At Equifax.com, the free credit report is titled "free credit file"; at TransUnion.ca it is called a "consumer disclosure." Follow either of these links and print the corresponding document.

2

Gather your two pieces of identification and photocopy both sides of each. TransUnion requires one piece of government-issued identification such as a drivers license, Canadian passport or birth certificate, and one additional piece of identification such as a signed credit card or social insurance card. Make sure that together the two pieces show your name, current address, date of birth and signature. Equifax requires copies of two pieces of government-issued identification and an additional document that shows your current address if neither piece of ID does.

3

Mail your request for a free credit report, along with the necessary photocopied identification to the corresponding credit bureau, whose addresses are provided on their websites. According to Equifax.ca, you should receive your report within five to 10 days.

4

Visit a TransUnion credit bureau in person to obtain a free copy of your credit report instantly. Bring the same pieces of identification you would use to request your report by mail, or photocopies. TransUnion credit bureaus are located in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

5

Visit the home page of either Equifax.ca or TransUnion.ca to download your credit report and score instantly. As of May 2010, the cost of downloading your credit report with TransUnion is $14.95 plus an additional $7.95 if you wish to view your FICO score. The cost of viewing your credit report with Equifax is $15.50 or you can pay $23.95 to view your credit report and FICO score together.