"What is the difference between Equifax and TransUnion in Canada?"

"Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada are the two major credit bureaus operating in Canada. Both collect credit information from lenders and creditors and calculate credit scores on the 300–900 scale. The main differences are: they use slightly different scoring models, not all lenders report to both bureaus (so your files may differ), their consumer products and pricing differ, and Borrowell provides free Equifax scores while Credit Karma Canada provides free TransUnion scores. Your score may differ by 10–50 points between the two bureaus."

"Which credit bureau do most Canadian lenders use — Equifax or TransUnion?"

"Most major Canadian banks (TD, RBC, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank) check one or both bureaus when you apply for credit, but practices vary by lender and product. Mortgages often involve a check of both bureaus. Credit card applications may use one or the other. Some lenders have a preference — American Express Canada tends to use TransUnion; some credit unions use Equifax exclusively. There is no definitive public list of which lender uses which bureau, and practices can change."

"Why is my Equifax score different from my TransUnion score?"

"Score differences between Equifax and TransUnion are normal and can result from: (1) Not all creditors report to both bureaus — some only report to one. (2) Equifax and TransUnion use different proprietary scoring models with different weightings. (3) Information may be updated on different schedules. A difference of 10–30 points is typical; differences over 50 points may indicate that one bureau has information the other doesn't, or that there is an error on one report worth investigating."

"Can I check both Equifax and TransUnion for free in Canada?"

"Yes. Borrowell (borrowell.com) provides your Equifax score and full credit report for free, updated weekly. Credit Karma Canada (creditkarma.ca) provides your TransUnion score and full report for free, updated weekly. Both use soft inquiries and do not affect your score. You can use both services simultaneously to monitor both bureaus at no cost."

"How do I dispute an error on my Equifax or TransUnion report in Canada?"

"For Equifax Canada: visit equifax.ca and use the online dispute centre, or submit a written dispute by mail with supporting documentation. For TransUnion Canada: visit transunion.ca and use the dispute portal, or write to TransUnion Consumer Relations. Both bureaus are legally required to investigate disputes and respond, typically within 30 days. If the information is confirmed inaccurate, it must be corrected or removed. Keep records of all correspondence."

Equifax vs TransUnion Canada: What's the Difference?

Canada has two major credit bureaus — Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada — and both maintain separate credit files on most Canadian adults who have used credit. Understanding the difference matters when you’re applying for a mortgage, checking your score, or trying to fix an error.

Equifax vs TransUnion: Key Differences at a Glance

	Equifax Canada	TransUnion Canada
Headquarters (Canadian)	Montreal, QC	Burlington, ON
Parent company	Equifax Inc. (Atlanta, USA)	TransUnion LLC (Chicago, USA)
Credit score scale	300–900	300–900
Free consumer score	Via Borrowell (weekly)	Via Credit Karma Canada (weekly)
Free official report	Yes — equifax.ca or by mail	Yes — transunion.ca or by mail
Paid monitoring products	Equifax Complete, ID Patrol	CreditView Dashboard, TrueIdentity
FCAC regulated	Yes	Yes

Both bureaus are regulated by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) and must comply with provincial consumer reporting legislation (e.g., the Consumer Reporting Act in Ontario).

Why Your Scores May Differ

It is completely normal to have a different score from Equifax and TransUnion. Here is why:

1. Not All Lenders Report to Both Bureaus

Some lenders report payment history, balances, and credit limits to only one bureau. If your car loan lender reports to Equifax but not TransUnion, that account won’t appear on your TransUnion file — meaning the two files have different information, producing different scores.

Common patterns (not exhaustive):

Major banks (TD, RBC, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank) typically report to both
Some credit unions and smaller lenders may report to only one
Some retailers and financing companies have bureau preferences

2. Different Scoring Models

Equifax and TransUnion each use proprietary scoring algorithms. Even if they have identical information on file, the models may weight factors differently, producing slightly different scores.

3. Timing Differences

Lenders report on different cycles. If a lender updated Equifax last week but hasn’t updated TransUnion yet, the balances on file will differ, producing a temporary score difference.

4. Errors on One Report (Not the Other)

If there is an error on only one report — a payment incorrectly marked as late, an account you don’t recognise — it will affect only that bureau’s score. This is why checking both reports regularly is important.

Which Bureau Do Canadian Lenders Check?

There is no comprehensive public registry, but general patterns include:

Product	Typical Bureau Practice
Mortgage	Often both Equifax and TransUnion; lender may use the lower of two scores
Credit card (Big 6 banks)	Varies by bank; often one bureau with preference
American Express Canada	Reported to use TransUnion frequently
Auto loan (dealership)	Often Equifax
Credit union	Often one bureau (varies by credit union)
Personal loan (fintech)	Often TransUnion
Rental application	Either, with tenant consent; varies by landlord

Practical implication: When preparing to apply for a major credit product (especially a mortgage), check and correct both bureau reports. Lenders who check both bureaus typically use the middle score if you have three bureau files, or the lower score when using two.

How to Access Both Reports for Free

Free Weekly Scores and Reports

Equifax — via Borrowell

borrowell.com
Free Equifax credit score + full report
Updated weekly
No credit card required; uses soft inquiry (no impact on score)

TransUnion — via Credit Karma Canada

creditkarma.ca
Free TransUnion credit score + full report
Updated weekly
No credit card required; uses soft inquiry

Official Free Annual Reports

Equifax Canada

Online: equifax.ca → “Get My Free Credit Report”
Mail: request form at equifax.ca; delivered within 2–3 weeks
Your score may not be included in the free version; Borrowell includes the score for free

TransUnion Canada

Online: transunion.ca → “Get My Free Credit Report”
Mail: available at no charge; 2–3 week delivery
Same caveat on scores; Credit Karma includes the score for free

What to Check on Each Report

When you pull both reports, compare the following across Equifax and TransUnion:

Item	What to Look For
Personal information	Same name, address, SIN (last 3 digits) on both? Any discrepancy may indicate an error or fraud
Open accounts	Same list of accounts on both? Accounts missing from one bureau may explain a score difference
Payment history	Any “late” marks that should be “on time”? A single incorrect late payment can suppress your score
Balances	Are current balances accurate? Stale high balances can inflate utilisation
Hard inquiries	Do you recognise all recent inquiries? Unrecognised inquiries may indicate fraud
Collections	Any collections you didn’t know about? Old collections beyond 6 years should be removed

Disputing Errors: Equifax vs TransUnion

Equifax Canada Dispute Process

Visit equifax.ca → Disputes Centre
Submit online with documentation; or mail written dispute to Equifax Canada
Equifax must investigate and respond within a reasonable period (typically 30 days)
If confirmed inaccurate, item is corrected or removed

TransUnion Canada Dispute Process

Visit transunion.ca → Dispute Centre
Complete the online form with supporting documents; or mail a written dispute
TransUnion must investigate and notify you of the outcome
Incorrect items are corrected; unverifiable items are removed

Important: If a lender is reporting incorrect information to both bureaus, you must dispute with both separately. Correcting one bureau does not automatically correct the other.

Do You Need to Pay for Credit Monitoring?

Both Equifax and TransUnion sell paid monitoring products ($10–$30/month). These typically add:

Real-time alerts for new accounts opened in your name
More detailed report access
Identity theft insurance

For most Canadians, the free services (Borrowell + Credit Karma) are sufficient for credit health monitoring. Paid products make the most sense if you’ve experienced identity theft or are actively concerned about fraud.