You can dispute credit report errors by contacting Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada separately, providing details and proof, and asking the bureau to investigate with the lender or creditor that supplied the item.

Your credit report is a record of how you have handled credit, and in Canada it is maintained by private credit reporting agencies. The two main agencies are Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada. If either file contains an error, you can dispute it directly with the agency that produced the report. The process is separate for each bureau, and correcting a mistake usually means showing the bureau what is wrong and providing documents that support your position. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada explains that you have the right to see your credit report and ask for corrections.

Errors matter because lenders, landlords, and even employers may rely on credit history. A wrong late payment, a collection account that is not yours, or a balance that never updates can affect your ability to borrow, rent, or co-sign for someone else. If you are thinking about helping a family member, it helps to understand what it means to be a co-signer before your own credit file is reviewed.

Step-by-step: disputing an error with Equifax or TransUnion

1. Get your reports from both bureaus. Request your credit report from Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report, though the way you request it may differ. Review every account, balance, payment history, collection item, inquiry, and personal detail.
2. Identify the exact error. Write down the account name, account number or masked number, the incorrect item, and what the correct information should be. Do this for each bureau separately because their files may not match.
3. Gather proof. Depending on the error, you may need bank statements, payment confirmations, a police report for identity theft, a consumer proposal or bankruptcy discharge document, or a letter from the creditor. Keep copies, not originals.
4. File the dispute with the bureau. Both Equifax and TransUnion accept disputes online, by mail, and in some cases by phone or fax. Use the bureau's current dispute form or portal. Clearly state the error, the correction you want, and include your supporting documents.
5. Wait for the investigation. The bureau will contact the lender, creditor, or collection agency that supplied the information. That organization must respond. If the information is wrong, the bureau must correct or remove it. Timelines vary, but disputes often take several weeks.
6. Review the updated report. Once you receive a response, check your credit report again to confirm the change. If the error remains, you can follow up with the bureau and, if necessary, contact the creditor directly or escalate to the appropriate consumer affairs or privacy regulator.

What counts as a credit report error?

Not every negative item is an error. A missed payment that actually happened, or a collection account that is legitimately yours, generally cannot be removed just because you disagree with it. A dispute is for inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information. Common examples include:

• Accounts that belong to someone else, often caused by a mixed file or identity theft.
• Payments reported late when you paid on time.
• Balances that are too high because a payment was not recorded.
• Accounts shown as open after you closed them, or closed when they are open.
• Duplicated accounts for the same debt.
• Incorrect personal information, such as a wrong name spelling, address, or date of birth.
• Bankruptcy, consumer proposal, or collection information reported after the legal time limit or with wrong details.
• Credit inquiries you did not authorize.

If you are dealing with a damaged file and need to borrow, it helps to understand how lenders view bad credit loans in Canada and what a co-signer may be asked to do. A clean credit report can also change the options available to you.

Equifax disputes: what to expect

Equifax Canada lets consumers request a credit report and submit a dispute. You will usually need to provide identification, your current address, and details about the item you are disputing. If you are mailing a dispute, send photocopies of your documents and keep a record of the date you sent them. Equifax will forward your dispute to the company that reported the information. That company then has an opportunity to verify or correct the item. If it cannot verify the information, the item should be removed or updated. You can check the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada's loans guidance for general information about borrowing and credit obligations.

TransUnion disputes: what to expect

TransUnion Canada has a similar process. You can obtain your report from TransUnion and file a dispute about specific items. The bureau will investigate with the lender or data furnisher. If the lender agrees there is a mistake, the file is updated. If the lender maintains the information is correct, TransUnion may leave it in place and explain the outcome. In either case, you should receive a response. Keep in mind that Equifax and TransUnion do not automatically share dispute results. A correction with one bureau does not guarantee a correction with the other, so you may need to dispute the same item twice.

What happens during the investigation?

The credit reporting agency acts as a record-keeper, not the original source of most credit information. When you dispute an item, the bureau sends your claim to the creditor or lender that reported it. That organization checks its records and tells the bureau whether the information is accurate, incomplete, or wrong. Under Canadian consumer reporting rules, information that is inaccurate or cannot be verified should be corrected or deleted. The process can feel slow because it depends on the lender's response, and some disputes require more than one round.

If the item is changed, ask both bureaus for an updated report. You may also want to ask the creditor to send corrected information to both Equifax and TransUnion. If the creditor says it has fixed the issue but the bureau report still shows the error, follow up with the bureau and provide the creditor's letter or correction confirmation.

Error type	Possible proof	Who to contact first
Late payment reported by mistake	Bank statement, payment receipt, creditor letter	Creditor, then both bureaus
Account is not yours	Police report, identity theft affidavit, ID documents	Bureau and creditor
Balance or limit is wrong	Recent statement, online account screenshot	Creditor, then bureau
Collection account paid or settled	Payment confirmation, settlement letter	Collection agency and bureau
Duplicate account	Credit report showing both entries	Bureau

If the bureau says the information is correct

Sometimes a dispute does not go your way. If the bureau confirms the item with the creditor, the negative information may stay. You still have options. You can ask the creditor to review its records again, provide more evidence, or explain the discrepancy in writing. If the issue involves personal information or privacy, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. For general consumer protection questions, the Office of Consumer Affairs can point you to federal and provincial resources. If you believe a lender or collector has broken consumer protection rules, your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office may be able to help.

A dispute is not a quick fix for a poor credit history built on real missed payments. However, it is the right tool when your file contains wrong information. A corrected report can improve your chances of approval and may affect the rate you are offered. If you are planning a large loan, use a loan payment calculator to understand the payment size before you apply.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Disputing only one bureau. Equifax and TransUnion hold separate files. Submit the dispute to both if both reports show the error.
• Sending original documents. Send copies and keep the originals. You may need them again.
• Using a generic dispute letter. Be specific about the account, the error, and the correction you want.
• Disputing accurate information. If the missed payment or collection is valid, a dispute will not remove it. Only inaccurate or unverifiable information should be disputed.
• Not following up. Keep notes of dates, names, and reference numbers. Check your report again after the expected response time.
• Paying a credit repair company for something you can do yourself. You can file disputes directly with Equifax and TransUnion at little or no cost.
• Ignoring identity theft. If accounts are not yours, dispute them and take steps to protect your identity, including contacting your bank and the police if appropriate.

Who this process suits

• Anyone who has reviewed their Equifax or TransUnion report and found an error.
• Co-signers whose own credit file is affected by a joint account or a guaranteed loan.
• People preparing to apply for a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or rental home.
• Consumers who want to correct personal information before a lender reviews their file.
• Victims of identity theft or mixed credit files.

Disputing credit report errors is a paperwork-heavy but manageable process. Start with your reports, gather evidence, and contact each bureau in writing. If the error is confirmed, the bureau must update its records. If it is not, you can escalate through the creditor, privacy regulator, or provincial consumer affairs office. The goal is an accurate file, not a perfect one, and accuracy is something you are allowed to ask for.