Sunday Reader Questions: How do I check my credit report?

Everybody should take a look at their credit report once in a while, and especially if you churn cards. Some readers are rightfully concerned about how all these new entries on their credit report look, and have asked: How do I check my credit report?

There are two credit bureaus in Canada: Equifax and Transunion. Each have relatively similar ways to check your credit report.

Just a note on the scores that both companies provide. These are called consumer disclosure scores, and they aren’t all that useful. Every creditor will apply a different algorithm to determine your score. These consumer disclosure scores will not reflect what a creditor sees. They’re not worth your money.

Equifax

First, you can access your credit report along with a score online. I recommend using the free trial. Make sure to call before the end of the 30 day period, or you will be charged. Cancelling is relatively easy over the phone. I have been able to use this free trial a number of times, but recently have been unable to.

Second, you can get your free credit report without a score mailed to you by using their automated phone system: 1-800-465-7166. You can do this as many times you want. Note that if you’re doing this hundreds of times (why would you do that!?), they will block the system for awhile.

Transunion

Unlike Equifax, there is no free trial that I know about. You can pay for their trial online, but I recommend not to bother with it. You can get your free credit report mailed to you by using their automated phone system: 1-800-663-9980. Some users have reported trouble with Transunion’s phone system. If you have that problem, you might need to send your request by mail, which must include photocopies of certain identifying documents. To request a credit report by mail, read Transunion’s website.