Understanding Your R-Rating: What R1 Through R9 Actually Mean
Quick Answer
An R-rating is a code from 1 to 9 on each account on your Canadian credit report that shows how you paid it. R1 is paid on time and R9 is written off, in collections or tied to bankruptcy. Negative information generally stays up to 6 years, and bankruptcy 6 or 7 years depending on your province, according to FCAC. Next step: get your free reports and look at the R-rating on each account.
Key facts
- 1
- Paid as agreed
- Source: TransUnion Canada
- 2 to 5
- Overdue 30 to 59, 60 to 89, 90 to 119 and 120 days or more
- Source: TransUnion Canada
- 7
- Making payments under a debt repayment program, where a consumer proposal shows
- Source: TransUnion Canada
- 9
- Bad debt, collection or skip (Equifax: bad debt, placed for collection, or moved without a new address)
- Source: TransUnion Canada; Government of Canada page modified March 31, 2019
- Equifax 1
- Pays within 30 days of the due date, or no more than one payment past due
- Source: Government of Canada, Office of Consumer Affairs, modified March 31, 2019
- Late payments
- Stay on your report for up to 6 years
- Source: FCAC, modified July 1, 2026
Both bureaus use a number from 0 to 9, and there is no 6. The table puts the two published keys side by side. The TransUnion column is TransUnion Canada's own table. The Equifax column comes from a Government of Canada page (Office of Consumer Affairs, modified March 31, 2019) that lists Equifax's ratings. We could not find a current key on Equifax's own pages, so check the key on your own Equifax report.
| Rating | TransUnion Canada | Equifax (Government of Canada page, 2019) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Too new to rate | Too new to rate, approved but not used |
| 1 | Paid as agreed | Pays within 30 days of the due date, or no more than one payment past due |
| 2 | Overdue 30 to 59 days | More than 30 and up to 60 days from the due date, or no more than two payments past due |
| 3 | Overdue 60 to 89 days | More than 60 and up to 90 days, or no more than three payments past due |
| 4 | Overdue 90 to 119 days | More than 90 and up to 120 days, or four payments past due |
| 5 | Overdue 120 days or more | At least 120 days overdue, not yet rated 9 |
| 7 | Making payments under a debt repayment program | Regular payments through a special arrangement to settle debts |
| 8 | Repossession | Repossession, voluntary or not |
| 9 | Bad debt, collection or skip | Bad debt, placed for collection, or moved without giving a new address |
The Equifax column says "pays" means the agreed amount, so a person who makes the minimum card payment on time still gets a 1 with a balance left. The two keys word the late ranges a little differently, so read the key printed on your own report.
There's no shortcut that erases a legitimate negative rating overnight, any service that claims otherwise is worth being skeptical of. What actually works is consistent on-time payments going forward, which gradually rebuilds your overall score even while the old entry ages toward its removal date. If you're specifically dealing with an R9 or working through debt recovery options, our Credit Rebuilding Hub covers the practical next steps.
If you're starting to rebuild after a negative rating, a secured or credit-building card is often the first account you can get. see our comparison of credit-building cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
R1 is the top rating. TransUnion Canada defines a 1 as paid as agreed. A Government of Canada page lists Equifax's R1 as paying within 30 days of the due date, or no more than one payment past due.
R9 is the worst rating on the scale. TransUnion Canada defines a 9 as bad debt, collection or skip. The FCAC says unpaid accounts usually stay on your report for up to 6 years, and bankruptcy is usually removed 6 years after discharge.
Not if it is accurate. The FCAC says late payments usually stay on your report for up to 6 years. But if a rating was reported in error, or an item is past its limit, you can dispute it with Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada.
Only the account type: R is revolving credit (credit cards, lines of credit), I is installment credit (car loans, personal loans), and O is open credit. The 1 to 9 number means the same thing for all three.