- Neither bureau is the “real” one: lenders choose which to pull, so check both reports, and use the one your lender pulls as your guide.
- A hard inquiry stays 3 years at Equifax and 6 years at TransUnion, so one file can look busier than the other.
- Both bureaus give you your report for free. Equifax gives your score free everywhere, TransUnion only in Quebec and Ontario.
- Scores differ because lenders report to one, both or neither bureau, and each bureau and lender uses its own formula.
- Disputes are per bureau: fixing an error at Equifax does not fix it at TransUnion.
Checked October 2026
Which bureau matters more?
Neither, on its own. Canada has 2 main credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion. A lender picks the one it wants, so the file that counts is the one your lender pulls. That is why FCAC, the federal consumer agency, points people to both.
We have no commercial relationship with either bureau, and we don’t sell credit reports or scores. Nothing on this page earns us a fee from Equifax or TransUnion.
Equifax and TransUnion side by side
| Equifax | TransUnion | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical score range | 300 to 900 | 300 to 900 |
| Free report online | Yes | Yes, called a Consumer Disclosure |
| Free score online | Yes, in every province and territory | Only in Quebec and Ontario |
| Free score by phone or mail | Yes, on request | Only in Quebec and Ontario |
| Phone number for your report | 1-800-465-7166 | 1-800-663-9980 |
| Hard inquiries kept | 3 years | 6 years |
| Closed accounts in good standing | Up to 10 years | Up to 20 years |
| Judgments | 6 years | 6 years, 7 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Quebec, 10 in PEI |
| Bankruptcy after discharge | 6 years | 6 years, 7 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, PEI and Quebec |
| Multiple bankruptcies | 14 years | 14 years |
| Online dispute time | About 15 to 20 days | Not stated on a page we could read |
Sources: FCAC and Equifax Canada pages, checked October 2026. TransUnion’s own site blocked our access, so TransUnion rows come from FCAC.
How long does each bureau keep the same event?
Often the same length, but not always. The biggest gap is the hard inquiry: 3 years at Equifax and 6 years at TransUnion. That is the same event, on the same day, with two different clocks.
| Event | Equifax | TransUnion |
|---|---|---|
| Hard inquiry | 3 years | 6 years |
| Late or unpaid credit card or loan | Up to 6 years | Up to 6 years |
| Closed account in good standing | Up to 10 years | Up to 20 years |
| Bankruptcy | 6 years after discharge | 6 years after discharge, 7 in some provinces |
| More than one bankruptcy | 14 years | 14 years |
| Consumer proposal | 3 years after you pay off the included debts, or 6 years after you sign, whichever comes first | Same rule |
| Debt management plan | 2 years after you finish paying | 2 years after you finish paying |
| Judgment | 6 years | 6 years, longer in some provinces |
Source: FCAC, “How long information stays on your credit report”, page dated July 2026. FCAC does not list a period for accounts sent to collections.
The province column matters too. TransUnion keeps judgments 7 years in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Quebec, and 10 years in Prince Edward Island. It keeps a bankruptcy 7 years after discharge in those three provinces and PEI. If you live in one of them, your TransUnion file can hold bad news longer than your Equifax file.
Why are my two scores different?
Your two files hold different information, and each score is built with its own formula. FCAC says bureaus and lenders use different formulas and don’t share the exact details.
There are three usual causes:
- Different data. Equifax says lenders don’t necessarily report to both bureaus. Some report to one, some to both, some to neither.
- Different clocks. An inquiry or old account can still be on one file after it has dropped off the other.
- Different timing. Bureaus update at least once a month, and not on the same day, so a payment can show on one first.
That means a gap is not a mistake by itself. It is a sign that the two bureaus are looking at two different pictures of you. The retention rules are the part with published numbers, so they are the easiest to check.
What a longer inquiry clock does
It can make one file look busier than the other. A hard inquiry is a lender checking your credit after you apply. It can lower your score and anyone reading your report can see it.
Here is a made-up example, not a real result. Two years ago you applied for a card and a car loan. Three years from now, those inquiries are gone from your Equifax file but still on your TransUnion file. The same person would look like a careful borrower on one file and a busier one on the other.
- Apply only when you need credit, and avoid several applications at once or in quick succession.
- Rate shopping for a car loan or mortgage within a 2-week period counts as 1 inquiry, according to FCAC.
- Checking your own report or score is a soft inquiry. It doesn’t affect your score.
Which bureau will my lender pull?
Most lenders don’t say. We found no official source that lists which bureau each Canadian lender uses, so we won’t guess, and you shouldn’t trust a list that claims to know.
The reliable method is your own report. The inquiries section names every company that pulled your file and when. Apply for something, then check which bureau shows the new hard inquiry. That bureau is your lender’s choice for that product.
How to get each report free
Go to each bureau, request your report online and download it. Both are free, and both update at least once a month. Checking your own report doesn’t affect your credit rating.
- Equifax CanadaRequest your report and score online. Both are free in every province and territory. By phone, call 1-800-465-7166.
- TransUnion CanadaRequest your Consumer Disclosure online for free. The online score is free only if you live in Quebec or Ontario. By phone, call 1-800-663-9980.
- By mail or in personFill in the bureau’s request form and mail it with photocopies of 2 valid pieces of ID. In some provinces and territories you can also go to a bureau office with at least 2 pieces of ID.
Many banks also show a free score in their apps.
What if there is an error on one report?
Dispute it with that bureau, and check the other one too. Each bureau keeps its own file, so a fix at one does not carry over. FCAC tells you to contact both bureaus using each one’s dispute form.
Disputes are free. FCAC says credit bureaus must correct errors for free.
- Gather proofCollect statements, receipts and letters that show the mistake.
- Dispute with each bureau that shows itUse the bureau’s own form. Equifax says online disputes take about 15 to 20 days and mailed ones about 20 to 25 days. We couldn’t confirm a TransUnion timeline.
- Expect a check with the lenderThe bureau asks the lender who reported the item. If the lender confirms it is wrong, the bureau corrects it. If the lender says it is right, it stays.
- Add a consumer statement if neededIt is free, and the word limit depends on the bureau and your province.
If you suspect fraud, ask both bureaus for a fraud alert. They may charge a fee.
Which report should I check first?
Check both. Neither bureau is the better one, and we can’t say which is more accurate because they hold different data under different rules. Use these rules instead:
- If you know which bureau your lender pulls, start with that one.
- If you don’t know, pull both before a big application, such as a mortgage or car loan.
- If you are waiting for something to age off, look at the bureau with the longer clock.
Checking is free and a soft inquiry, so do it often. If you are rebuilding, see our cards for building credit and our guide to credit utilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TransUnion or Equifax more accurate?
Neither can be called more accurate. Each holds the information its lenders report, and lenders may report to one, both or neither. Two files can both be correct and still differ. Check both for errors, since FCAC says to dispute with each bureau separately.
Why is my Equifax score higher than my TransUnion score?
The usual causes are different data, different retention clocks and different formulas. A hard inquiry stays 3 years at Equifax and 6 at TransUnion. Lenders also may report to only one bureau. Compare the two reports line by line to find the cause.
How long does a hard inquiry stay on my credit report in Canada?
According to FCAC, 3 years at Equifax and 6 years at TransUnion. Equifax’s own page says a hard inquiry may remain for 36 months. We couldn’t read TransUnion’s own pages, so check them directly before relying on the 6 years.
Do Canadian lenders use Equifax or TransUnion?
Both are used, and most lenders don’t say which they pull. The reliable way to find out is your own report: the inquiries section lists every company that pulled your file and when. Some lenders may pull both.
Are there three credit bureaus in Canada?
No. FCAC says Canada has 2 main credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion. If you see advice about other bureaus, it is likely written for another country. These two only collect information about your credit activity in Canada.
Is checking my own credit report a hard inquiry?
No. FCAC says checking your credit report or score won’t affect your credit rating. Requests you make yourself appear only on your copy of the report. Hard inquiries come from lenders after you apply for credit.
How long does a consumer proposal stay on each report?
FCAC says Equifax and TransUnion remove it 3 years after you’ve paid off all included debts, or 6 years after you sign the proposal, whichever comes first. Check each bureau’s current wording, since the start date for the 6 years could differ.
Do I have to dispute an error with both bureaus?
Yes, if it shows on both. FCAC says to contact both Equifax and TransUnion using each bureau’s dispute form. Each keeps its own file, so a correction at one does not automatically change the other.
Try this next
Sources, checked October 2026
- FCAC: Credit report and score basics canada.ca
- FCAC: Getting your credit report and credit score canada.ca
- FCAC: How long information stays on your credit report canada.ca
- Equifax Canada: What information is in a credit report? equifax.ca
- FCAC: Improving your credit score canada.ca
- Equifax Canada: What is a good credit score in Canada? equifax.ca
- FCAC: Checking your credit report for errors and fraud canada.ca
- Equifax Canada: Dispute credit report information equifax.ca
General information for Canadians, not financial, tax or legal advice. Rules and menus change, so confirm details with your bank, lender or the Government of Canada. See our methodology.