In Canada, there are two organizations that track and report on your personal credit history – Equifax, TransUnion. If you visit their websites, they encourage you to sign-up and pay for their premium services, where you get instant access to your credit file, as well as added bonuses, like fraud monitoring, calculating your credit score etc.

While some people might find these bonuses useful, others just want to be able to see the information in their files. By law, these organizations are required to disclose to you any and all information they collect about you. Both organizations have tiny links indicating that you can obtain a file disclosure if you send your request in writing, and with proof of identity by Canada Post mail.

I order my credit file once every three months, and after any application for credit, i.e. in January, April, July & October. Also, since I took out an RRSP Loan, I requested a file disclosure in February.

It isn’t too complicated, just fill out the forms below (you can actually use the same form for both organizations), and attach two pieces of id, one of which should include proof of current residence. So for example, your driver’s licence (which includes your most current address) and your health card. If you driver’s licence has an alternate address, not the current one you are requesting they return your file disclosure to, you should also include a utility bill, or some other form of identification that indicates your current residence.

I’ll post later about interpreting the actual report you get in the mail.

Links to the forms:
Equifax Credit File Disclosure Form
TransUnion Credit File Disclosure Form

Links to useful sites:
Equifax Canada
TransUnion Canada Disclosure Page
MBNA Learning Center