How to dispute an error on your credit report
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If you find a mistake on your file, you have the right to dispute an error on your credit report, and the bureau must correct it for free. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) confirms both points. The process is short, but it works best when you file with the right bureau, attach the right documents, and know what to do if the answer is no.
This guide covers the Equifax and TransUnion processes step by step, with channels, addresses, and timelines checked on each bureau's website as of October 18, 2026. For the basics, start with our credit score hub.
When to dispute an error on your credit report
The FCAC lists the problems to look for when you review your report. Any of them can lower your score or make it harder to get credit at a good interest rate:
- Personal information: a wrong address, name, or date of birth.
- Account errors: a credit card or loan with the wrong balance, limit, or status.
- Payment history: a payment marked late even though you paid on time.
- Unknown accounts: an account you never opened, which can signal identity theft.
- Expired items: negative information that stays after the maximum period allowed.
Only inaccurate information can be removed. TransUnion states that accurate negative information stays on your report as long as the law allows, so a dispute is not a way to erase a real late payment. If your score fell and you don't know why, read our guide on why a credit score drops first.
Step 1: Get both reports and gather proof
Each bureau keeps its own file. An error on your Equifax report may not appear on TransUnion, or the reverse. Pull both free reports first, as explained in our guide on how to check your credit score in Canada.
Next, gather proof. The FCAC recommends collecting receipts, statements, and other documents that show the mistake. Equifax lists the documents it may ask for:
- To fix personal information: 2 valid government-issued pieces of ID (front and back) and 1 proof of address dated less than 90 days ago.
- To fix an account: current bank statements, letters from the creditor, or a letter confirming the account's status and details.
- For public records: a bankruptcy discharge or other court documents, or release letters from lenders or collection agencies.
Step 2: Dispute with Equifax
Equifax accepts disputes online and by mail, and lists phone numbers for updates. The service is free.
Online
Start from the Equifax dispute page and choose the part of your report you want to correct, such as personal information, accounts, inquiries, or public records. Equifax emails you the right form and instructions to submit it electronically. Equifax lists processing at 15 to 20 days for an electronic dispute.
By mail
Download and print the form, then mail it with copies of your documents to Equifax Canada Co., National Consumer Relations, Box 190, Montreal, Quebec H1S 2Z2. Equifax lists 20 to 25 days of processing for a mailed dispute.
What happens next
If Equifax can correct the file from your documents, it does so. Otherwise, it asks the company that reported the information to verify it. When the investigation ends, Equifax sends a confirmation letter with the results, by email for an online dispute or by mail for a mailed one.
Step 3: Dispute with TransUnion
TransUnion accepts disputes online, by phone, and by mail. The service is free, and TransUnion says it must verify the accuracy of any information you dispute.
Online and by phone
The online route goes through TransUnion's self-service site, where you can view your file and dispute items. By phone, English speakers call 1-800-663-9980, Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. French speakers call 1-877-713-3393, or 514-335-0374 in Montreal, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
Have your full name, date of birth, current address, previous address if you moved in the last 2 years, the name of the disputed item, and the reason for your dispute ready. Your social insurance number is optional.
By mail
Download the Credit Investigation Request form from the TransUnion disputes page and mail it with your documents to TransUnion Consumer Relations Department, P.O. Box 338, LCD1, Hamilton, Ontario L8L 7W2. TransUnion's FAQ says investigations are typically concluded within 30 days of receiving your request.
| Step | Equifax | TransUnion |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Form sent by email after you start on equifax.ca | Self-service site at ocs.transunion.ca |
| By phone | 1-866-828-5961 or 1-800-871-3250 | 1-800-663-9980 (EN), 1-877-713-3393 (FR) |
| By mail | Box 190, Montreal, QC H1S 2Z2 | P.O. Box 338, LCD1, Hamilton, ON L8L 7W2 |
| Processing time | 15 to 20 days online, 20 to 25 days by mail | Typically within 30 days |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Consumer statement if refused | 800 characters or less | 100 words (200 in Saskatchewan) |
Step 4: Contact the lender as well
The FCAC notes that you may speed things up by contacting the lender directly. Ask it to check its files and send corrected information to the bureaus.
Equifax describes the same option. A business that receives your dispute investigates, sends you the results, and notifies the bureau of any change. Since lenders may report to both bureaus, a correction at the source can fix both files at once.
If your dispute is refused
A dispute is refused when the lender confirms that its information is correct. You still have options.
Escalate within the bureau or the bank
The FCAC suggests asking to speak with someone at a higher level if you are not satisfied with the result. If the error comes from a bank, federally regulated financial institutions must have a complaint process that includes access to an external complaints body.
Add a consumer statement
You can add a short, free statement to your file to explain your side. Lenders who read your report may take it into account. Equifax allows up to 800 characters, while TransUnion allows 100 words, or 200 words in Saskatchewan.
Complain about the bureau
If you feel a bureau treated you unfairly, start with the bureau itself. The FCAC then points to your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office.
If the error is fraud
An account you never opened calls for faster action. The FCAC recommends contacting the lender involved, asking both bureaus to place a fraud alert on your file, and reporting the fraud to the National Fraud Reporting System.
In some provinces you can also freeze your file. Equifax offers a free credit lock to residents of Quebec and Ontario, and TransUnion offers a free credit freeze to Quebec residents. Remember to lift it before you apply for credit. Our credit card fraud and security guide covers the card side.
Conclusion
Disputing an error costs nothing and takes a few weeks. Pull both reports, gather proof, file with each bureau that shows the error, and ask the lender to correct its data at the source. Equifax quotes 15 to 25 days depending on the channel, and TransUnion typically concludes within 30 days.
If the dispute fails, escalate, add a consumer statement, or complain to your provincial consumer affairs office. Once the file is clean, our guide on how to increase your credit score shows the next steps.
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Frequently asked questions about disputing a credit report error
How long does a credit report dispute take in Canada?
Equifax lists about 15 to 20 days for an online dispute and 20 to 25 days for a mailed one. TransUnion says its investigations are typically concluded within 30 days of receiving your request. Contacting the lender at the same time can speed things up, according to the FCAC. Keep copies of everything you send in case you need to follow up.
Does disputing a credit report error cost anything?
No. The FCAC states that credit bureaus must correct errors for free, and both Equifax and TransUnion describe their dispute service as free of charge. Adding a consumer statement is also free. Be careful with paid credit repair services: TransUnion says the outcome is the same whether you file yourself or through a company.
Will a dispute hurt my credit score?
Filing a dispute does not lower your score. It does not create a hard inquiry, and checking your own report has no effect either, as the FCAC confirms. Our guide on whether checking your credit score lowers it explains the difference between soft and hard inquiries. If the dispute succeeds, your score may rise once the corrected data is in your file.
Do I need to dispute with both Equifax and TransUnion?
Only if the error appears on both reports. Each bureau keeps its own file, so a correction at Equifax does not change TransUnion, or the reverse. Check both reports first. If the same error shows up twice, file with each bureau and ask the lender to send corrected data to both.
Can I dispute a late payment that was really late?
You can file, but the bureau will not remove accurate information. TransUnion says only inaccurate information may be removed, and accurate negative information stays as long as the law allows. Instead, you can add a consumer statement to explain the context. You can also ask the lender directly for a goodwill adjustment, although it has no obligation to agree.
What if a bureau ignores my dispute?
First, contact the bureau again and ask to speak with someone at a higher level, as the FCAC suggests. If that fails, file a complaint with your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office, since the federal government does not regulate credit bureaus. In Quebec, TransUnion runs a separate complaint process under the province's credit assessment law. Our TransUnion credit score guide lists more TransUnion contacts.
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