Credit Bureaus
Credit bureaus are central agencies that maintain a complete record of your credit dealings with all major financial institutions, retailers, department stores, utility companies, etc., including details of any credit applications, the outcome and your repayment record. It also includes details of any legal judgments filed against you, wage garnishments or bankruptcies. Information remains on file for seven years.
Before approving your application for credit, lenders will check on your credit history with a credit bureau to gain a better understanding of your borrowing and repayment habits.
Protect your credit history. It's yours!
Your credit history belongs to you - it's proof that you can handle bigger financial responsibilities, like a home mortgage or a car loan. So it makes sense to take steps to protect it. From time to time, review a copy of your credit history to ensure that it's accurate and up-to-date.
You can usually request a credit report for yourself free of charge. If the credit bureau has made a mistake, contact them right away.
There are two main credit agencies in Canada:
Equifax Canada Inc.: 1-800-465-7166
Trans Union Canada: 1-800-663-9980
Next: Credit Problems?
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