How to dispute a credit report error with TransUnion or Equifax
Quick summary
A dispute is free. Get your report, find the error, then file the dispute with each bureau that shows it. TransUnion says most investigations finish within 30 days. Only wrong information can be removed. Accurate information stays. First, get your reports with our free credit report guide.
Checked November 3, 2026. Main source: TransUnion Canada: Credit report disputes (checked November 3, 2026). See all 3 sources.
Key facts
- Cost
- A dispute is free
- Source: Equifax and TransUnion Canada, read Nov 3, 2026
- Investigation time
- TransUnion says most finish within 30 days
- Source: TransUnion Canada, read Nov 3, 2026
- What can be removed
- Only wrong information. Accurate information stays
- Source: Equifax and TransUnion Canada, read Nov 3, 2026
How to file with each bureau
| TransUnion Canada | Equifax Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Online | ocs.transunion.ca (free account) | Fill in your name and email. Equifax sends you the dispute form to complete electronically. |
| Download the Investigations form, add your documents and mail it | Download the dispute form and mail it | |
| Phone | 1-800-663-9980 (English). French: 1-877-713-3393 | See the Equifax page for the current contact options |
| Time it says it takes | Usually within 30 days of receipt | 15 to 20 days for the electronic form and 20 to 25 days for mail processing |
Sources: the TransUnion and Equifax dispute pages listed below, checked November 3, 2026. Timelines are the bureaus' own statements, not promises. Quebec has extra rules and its own steps.
What to prepare before you start
- Your full name, date of birth and current address.
- Your last address, if you have lived at the current one for under two years.
- The name of the company or item on your report, written the way the report shows it.
- A short reason, for example: I paid this account in full.
- Proof, such as a statement, a payment record or a letter from the lender.
- Your Social Insurance Number is optional on the TransUnion form.
What happens after you file
- The bureau contacts the company that reported the information and asks it to confirm.
- If the company cannot confirm it, the bureau removes or fixes it.
- You get the result in writing by mail.
- Do not apply for new credit while the dispute is open, because TransUnion recommends waiting.
- Only wrong information can be removed. Late payments or debts that are true stay for the time the law allows.
If they say the information is correct
- TransUnion lets you add a consumer statement of up to 100 words (200 in Saskatchewan) that explains your side. It stays on your file for six years unless you remove it in writing.
- Ask the company that reported it to fix it. A bureau can only show what the company tells it.
- A legal clinic page says that when a bureau corrects information, it must tell anyone who got your report in the last 60 days. That page has no date, so check the current rule.
- If you proved it is wrong and nothing changed, you can complain to your provincial consumer office.
Questions people ask
How do I dispute something on my TransUnion report?
File free at ocs.transunion.ca, by phone at 1-800-663-9980, or by mail with the Investigations form. Have your details and proof ready.
How long does a credit report dispute take in Canada?
TransUnion says investigations are typically done within 30 days. Equifax gives 15 to 20 days for the electronic form and 20 to 25 days for mail.
Does it cost money to dispute a credit report?
No. Both bureaus let you file for free. Be careful of any company that charges you to do it for you.
Can a dispute remove a true late payment?
No. Only information that is wrong or cannot be verified is removed. True information stays for the time the law allows.
Do I need to dispute with both bureaus?
Only with the bureaus whose report shows the error. Check your Equifax and TransUnion reports, because they can differ.