How To Get a Free Copy of Your Credit Report

You do not need to pay to see your credit report.

In Canada, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each credit bureau every year. We recommend requesting your report directly from Equifax and TransUnion, as these are the reports lenders actually use.

There are several ways to get your report. Choose the option that works best for you.

Before You Start: Important Notes

  • Credit reports are not updated instantly. If you recently filed a bankruptcy or consumer proposal, wait at least four months after filing before requesting your report.
  • Not all lenders report to both bureaus, so you should review both Equifax and TransUnion.
  • Due to strict privacy laws, Hoyes Michalos is not permitted to report to the credit reporting agencies, and we are not permitted to change any information on your credit report.  
  • We do NOT recommend free services like Credit Karma (who get information from TransUnion), or Mogo and Borrowell (who get information from Equifax).  They offer free credit reports, but in our experience they only present summary information, and it is often out of date or inaccurate, and you can’t ask them to correct it.  The banks get their credit information directly from the credit bureaus, TransUnion and Equifax, so you should only get a free credit report directly from TransUnion or Equifax.

We recommend getting a free copy of your credit report and completing a review for mistakes annually. This is also a good way to monitor your credit profile for potential fraud and identity theft. Credit bureaus will only provide one free copy of your credit report per year. If you would like to monitor your credit report more frequently order an Equifax credit report followed by the TransUnion report 6 months later and continue alternating every six months.

We will help you get a copy of your credit report at your credit counselling session if you have not already done so.

Always review your credit report carefully and correct any errors before applying for new credit. If you discover errors on your credit report, please see our article on how to correct errors on your credit report.

Option 1: Get Your Credit Report Through Your Bank

Many banks offer free access to your credit report through online banking. This is useful for a quick review, but it does not replace getting your official report directly from the credit bureau if you need to correct errors.

Banks that currently offer free credit report access include:

Important: If you need to dispute or correct information, you must work directly with Equifax or TransUnion, not your bank.

Option 2: Get a Free Credit Report Online

Both credit bureaus allow you to request a free credit report online.

What you’ll need

  • Your full name and address
  • Your Social Insurance Number
  • Answers to identity-verification questions (for example: Who have you received credit from? Which is your previous address? – they provide a list to pick from, How old are you today?)

What to expect

  • If your identity is confirmed, you can view and print your report immediately
  • If verification fails, you will need to request your report by mail

Tips if the site doesn’t work

  • Use Google Chrome in Incognito mode, or Safari in Private mode
  • Disable pop-up blockers

The online system does not operate perfectly. We have had reports that even when the identification questions were answered correctly the system may reject them. In those cases you may need to request your credit report by mail, so that a human can review and issue your credit report.

Where to go

Both TransUnion and Equifax offer paid credit reports, for a monthly fee.  The paid credit reports include your credit score, but we do not recommend the paid version because it’s expensive, and your credit score is less important than the creditor information on your credit report, which you can get for free.  

Option 3: Get a Free Credit Report by Mail

Requesting your credit report by mail takes longer, but a human reviews your request, which can be helpful if your information is complex.

What to include

  • Completed request form
  • Two pieces of government-issued ID (photocopy front and back)
  • One ID must show your current address (like a driver’s license)
  • if you don’t have ID with a current address, in addition to your two pieces of ID, include a utility bill or other invoice with your address on it

Processing usually takes 2–3 weeks.

Tips

  • print neatly; if they can’t read your writing, they will ignore the request

Equifax:

  • Complete the Equifax Credit Request Form available online from Equifax (found here).
  • Mail or fax your completed form, with photocopies of the required identification to:

Equifax Canada Co
National Consumer Relations
P.O. Box 190, Station Jean-Talon
Montreal, Quebec
Fax: 514-355-8502

TransUnion

  • Complete the TransUnion Credit Request Form (found here).
  • Mail your completed form, with photocopies of the required identification to:

Consumer Relations Centre
PO Box 338 LCD1
Hamilton, Ontario L8L 7W2

Option 4: Get a Free Credit Report by Phone

Equifax:

To request a FREE copy of your credit report from Equifax Canada, dial 1-800-465-7166 and be prepared to provide the following information to the automated attendant:

  1. Your Social Insurance Number
  2. Your birthdate in mm/dd/yyyy format
  3. The house number of your current home address
  4. Unit number if applicable
  5. Postal code (using the corresponding # on the keypad for each letter)

If you provide the same information that is on your credit file through this process, Equifax will mail your copy within 7-10 business days. If the information you provide does not match their records, you will be asked to mail your request along with TWO pieces of identification to Box 190 Jean Talon Station, Montreal QC H1S 2Z2. It is important that both pieces of ID have your current address.

TransUnion

To request a FREE copy of your credit report from Trans Union Canada, dial 1-866-525-0262 and provide similar information:

  1. SIN, Visa or MasterCard number
  2. Birthdate, mm/dd/yyyy
  3. House number
  4. Home telephone number
  5. Choose your previous address, from 3 options, that you lived at during a particular year
  6. if #5 is answered incorrectly, another question may be asked, for example, what is the credit limit on a particular credit card

If you provide the correct responses, you should receive the report within 5-7 business days (quicker because Trans Union is located in Hamilton, Ontario). Otherwise, you will be asked to mail copies of identification in order to process the request (same guidelines as above) to PO Box 338, LCD1, Hamilton, ON L8L 7W2.

Option 5: Get a Free Credit Report in Person

This option is less common but still available. This information was current as of February, 2026. Please confirm that neither credit bureau has moved their office. Long wait times are possible.

Equifax (Toronto)

  • Address: 5700 Yonge Street, Toronto – Concourse level (near bottom of escalators)
  • Open 8:30am – 4:30pm
  • Bring:
    • all addresses that you lived at for the last 3 years
    • at least two forms of identification, including 1 photo identification and proof of current address
    • you must provide the original copies of your chosen identification – photocopies and electronic versions are not accepted at the office
    • providing your Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) is optional but they will cross-reference if you provide

Notes from their website: You must provide copies of 2 pieces of government-issued identification (such as a driver’s license, health card, birth certificate or passport). If neither piece of government-issued identification shows your current home address, you must also submit a copy of an additional document that shows your address (such as a recent telephone or utilities bill, or a bank or credit card statement). You may black out transaction details on a bill or statement, as long the copy clearly shows the date of the document, the sender, your name and address, and your account number.

TransUnion (Ontario)

  • Address: 3115 Harvester Road, Suite 201, Burlington
  • Open 9:00am – 4:00pm
  • Bring two pieces of ID showing name, current address, date of birth, and signature

Common Pieces of Identification Accepted

Each credit bureau may have unique requirements (see our notes above) however these are common identifications accepted. Please check Equifax or TransUnion for confirmation. All identification must be current and non-expired.

Acceptable primary (government issued) identification

Drivers license
Canadian Passport
Certificate of Indian Status
Birth Certificate
Permanent Resident card
Citizenship and Immigration form
Old Age Security card
Department of National Defence card
Provincial photo ID

Additional pieces of acceptable identification

Utility bill indicating current address
(May accept credit card statements with current address)
CNIB card
Social Insurance card
T4 slip (current tax year)
Notice of Assessments (current tax year)
GST/HST Refunds (current tax year)
Child Tax Benefits (current tax year)