TransUnion
TransUnion is one of the two major credit bureaus operating in Canada — the other being Equifax. It is a global information and insights company that collects credit data reported by lenders, utilities, and other creditors to build individual credit files for Canadian consumers. Lenders consult TransUnion’s credit reports and scores to assess the risk of lending to you.
Not every Canadian lender reports to both Equifax and TransUnion — some report to only one. As a result, your credit file at TransUnion may contain slightly different information than at Equifax, and your score may differ between the two bureaus.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Credit bureau (reporting agency) |
| Canadian score range | 300 – 900 |
| Free annual credit report | transunion.ca |
| Credit monitoring service | TransUnion Credit Monitoring (paid) |
| Free score access | Via TransUnion website and some banks |
| Dispute process | Online or written; bureau must investigate |
| Scoring model | CreditVision (Canadian proprietary model) |
Canadian Context
TransUnion Canada uses its own proprietary scoring model (CreditVision) which incorporates trend data — meaning it looks at how your balances have changed over time, not just your current snapshot. This can benefit consumers who have been steadily paying down debt. As with Equifax, you are entitled to a free annual credit report from TransUnion under Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA). Some Canadian lenders check only TransUnion (or only Equifax) — if you’ve been declined and want to understand which bureau was checked, you can ask the lender directly. You can place a security freeze or fraud alert on your TransUnion file to protect against identity theft. See our credit scores guide for more on how scores are built.
Related Glossary Terms
Information on this page is provided for general educational purposes. Visit transunion.ca for official TransUnion Canada information, free credit reports, and dispute procedures.