Credit Report
A credit bureau's summary of your credit history, including accounts, payment record, inquiries, collections and bankruptcies.
A credit report is a summary of your credit history. A credit bureau creates it when you first borrow or apply for credit. Canada has two main credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion. Lenders may report to one, both or neither, so your two reports may not be identical.
A report contains personal details such as your name, date of birth and addresses. It lists your credit accounts, including credit cards, loans and lines of credit. For each account it can show when it was opened and how much you owe. It can also show whether you pay on time and go over your limit. It also shows inquiries from lenders, debts sent to collection agencies, and public records such as bankruptcies. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says bureaus update reports at least once a month.
Information does not stay forever. According to the FCAC, late or unpaid credit card and loan information stays for up to 6 years. Lender inquiries stay 3 years with Equifax and 6 years with TransUnion. A bankruptcy is usually removed 6 years after discharge. TransUnion keeps it for 7 years in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
You can get your credit report free from both bureaus, online, by mail, by phone, or in person in some provinces and territories. Checking your own report does not affect your credit score. Errors and fraud do happen, so the FCAC recommends reviewing both reports regularly. Bureaus must correct errors for free. You report an error using each bureau's dispute form, and the bureau checks it with the organization that supplied the information.
Landlords often review a credit report when screening tenants. Checking your own reports before you apply gives you time to fix mistakes first.
Sources
- FCAC: Credit report and score basics
- FCAC: How long information stays on your credit report
- FCAC: Check your credit report for errors and fraud
- Equifax: What information is in a credit report
Last reviewed October 16, 2026.
Related terms in Screening & Credit
- Credit Score A three-digit number, usually 300 to 900 in Canada, that estimates how likely you are to repay borrowed money.
- Guarantor A person, often a parent, who promises to pay the rent if the tenant does not. Human-rights law limits when landlords may require one.
- Hard vs Soft Inquiry A hard inquiry is a credit check for a lending decision that can lower your score; a soft inquiry, like checking your own credit, does not.
- Protected Grounds Personal characteristics, such as race, disability or receipt of public assistance, that a landlord cannot use to refuse or treat a renter unfairly.
General information only, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and vary by province; confirm the current details with the relevant authority before you rely on them.