This guide covers the dispute process at Equifax and TransUnion, how long each one takes, and what to do when the lender refuses to budge.

The short answer

To fix an error on your credit report in Canada, file a free dispute with each credit bureau that shows the mistake, Equifax and TransUnion, and send documents that prove it. Equifax says it processes disputes in about 15 to 20 days online, and TransUnion says most investigations conclude within 30 days.

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) says you have the right to dispute any information you believe is wrong, and that credit bureaus must correct errors for free. The bureau checks the item with the lender or organization that reported it. If the lender confirms the error, the bureau corrects it. If the lender says the information is right, it stays.

Step one: check both reports

Canada has two main credit bureaus, and each keeps its own file on you. An error can sit on one report and not the other, so you need to see both. The FCAC says you can get your credit report online for free from each bureau, and you can also ask for a free copy by mail. Checking your own report or score does not affect your credit rating.

Look for these common problems:

• Personal details: a wrong name spelling, birth date, address or employer.
• Accounts you do not recognize: these can be a reporting mix-up or a sign of identity theft.
• Wrong payment history: a payment shown as late when you paid on time.
• Wrong status or balance: a closed account shown as open, a paid debt shown as owing, or the same debt listed twice.
• Inquiries you did not authorize: credit checks from lenders you never applied to.

If an account or inquiry is not yours at all, treat it as possible fraud as well as an error. Our guide to an unauthorized transaction on your card explains how to report fraud to your bank.

How Equifax and TransUnion compare

Both bureaus investigate for free, but the methods, timelines and statement rules differ.

Sources: Equifax Canada, TransUnion Canada and the FCAC, checked November 8, 2026. TransUnion takes disputes by phone at the number shown; Equifax lists online and mail as its dispute methods.

Equifax asks for two valid pieces of government-issued ID (front and back) and one proof of address dated less than 90 days old. Its online form lets you attach up to three files, so pick your strongest evidence. TransUnion asks for your full name, date of birth, current address, the item you are disputing and the reason, and its mail form needs supporting documents.

A worked example: one error, both bureaus

Say a credit card payment you made on time shows as 30 days late on both reports. You file online with Equifax and TransUnion on Monday, November 9, 2026. Here is when to expect answers based on each bureau’s stated timeline, counted in calendar days.

Hypothetical example. Equifax describes its timeline as “about” 15 to 20 days and TransUnion counts from the day it receives your request, so a mailed TransUnion dispute starts later. Dates were counted by script and checked by hand.

In this case, you should know where you stand at both bureaus within about a month. If you plan to apply for a mortgage or car loan soon, that month matters. File early, and file with both bureaus on the same day.

Why you should call the lender too

The bureau does not decide on its own whether a lender’s data is right. It asks the lender, and the lender’s answer usually settles it. The FCAC says you may be able to speed up the process by contacting the lender directly and asking it to check its files and send updated information to the credit bureaus.

If the lender made the mistake and will not fix it, that is a complaint about the lender. Banks must follow a formal complaint process, which we cover in how long a bank has to respond to a complaint.

If the bureau keeps the item

When the lender confirms the information, the bureau keeps it on your report. You still have options:

1. Escalate inside the bureau. The FCAC says that if you are not satisfied with the investigation, ask to speak with someone at a higher level.
2. Go back to the lender with new proof. Ask for a written explanation of why it believes the record is correct.
3. Use the lender’s complaint process. Start with customer service, then its complaints office.
4. Add a consumer statement. The FCAC says this is free. Equifax allows up to 800 characters. TransUnion allows 100 words, or 200 in Saskatchewan, and keeps it for six years unless you ask in writing to remove it.
5. Check again later. The FCAC says bureaus update your report at least once a month, so confirm the change actually appears.

A consumer statement does not remove the item or change your score. It gives lenders who read your file your side of the story.

How long a wrong item can hurt you

This is why fixing an error matters. The FCAC says late or unpaid credit cards and loans can stay on your report for up to 6 years. Inquiries stay for 3 years with Equifax or 6 years with TransUnion. A mistake left alone can affect loan approvals and rates for a long time.

The FCAC also says that in some provinces, a bureau must send a copy of your corrected report to organizations that recently requested it. That can help if a lender turned you down based on the error. Ask the bureau whether that applies where you live.

For more on reports, scores and repayment, see our credit and debt hub.

Frequently asked questions

• Sources, checked November 8, 2026: FCAC: Checking your credit report for errors and fraud (modified 2026-07-01); FCAC: Getting your credit report and credit score (modified 2026-11-04); FCAC: Credit report and score basics (modified 2026-07-01); FCAC: How long information stays on your credit report (modified 2026-07-01); Equifax Canada: Dispute your credit report; TransUnion Canada: Credit report disputes.
• Method: Dates in the worked example were counted by script from Monday, November 9, 2026, in calendar days, then re-checked by day-of-year arithmetic. Processing times are the bureaus’ own stated estimates, not guarantees.

Important: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Credit reporting rules vary by province, and bureau processes can change. Gizly is not paid by Equifax, TransUnion or any lender mentioned here. See our affiliate disclosure.