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The short answer
Dispute the error with both Equifax and TransUnion, because they keep separate files; both correct errors free. TransUnion says investigations typically finish within 30 days, and Equifax gives about 15 to 20 days online and 20 to 25 days by mail. If the lender insists the entry is right, you can add a free consumer statement and take a complaint to your provincial consumer affairs office.
Why errors matter more for newcomers
A new Canadian credit file has few entries, so one wrong late payment or an account that is not yours can drag a score down hard. Common problems for Nigerian newcomers include names recorded in a different order, a middle name used as a surname, two people with similar names merged into one file, an old address left over from a first rented room, and a closed account still showing a balance. Your Nigerian history does not carry over automatically either; see using Nigerian credit history in Canada.
The six steps
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC, page modified 1 July 2026) sets out this process:
- Gather proof: receipts, statements, letters and anything else that shows the mistake.
- Dispute with both Equifax and TransUnion using their forms. FCAC says the bureaus must correct errors free of charge.
- The bureau checks with the lender. If the lender agrees there is an error, it is corrected. If the lender says the information is right, it stays.
- Contact the lender yourself to speed things up, and ask it to send corrected information to both bureaus.
- Escalate within the lender. FCAC notes that federally regulated banks must have a complaints procedure and access to an external complaints body.
- Add a consumer statement if you are still not satisfied. It is free and lenders may take it into account.
TransUnion: how to dispute
TransUnion Canada's disputes page offers three routes, all free:
- Online through its consumer self-service site.
- Phone: 1-800-663-9980 (English, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET).
- Mail: the Investigations form with documents to TransUnion Consumer Relations Department, P.O. Box 338, LCD1, Hamilton, Ontario L8L 7W2. Quebec residents have a separate process.
Include your full name, date of birth, current address, previous address if you have been at the current one under two years, the disputed item as it appears on your report, the reason, and supporting documents. Your Social Insurance Number is optional. TransUnion says investigations are typically concluded within 30 days of receiving your request, recommends not applying for credit while a dispute is open, and sends the outcome by Canada Post. If an item is confirmed as accurate, you can add a statement of up to 100 words (200 in Saskatchewan).
Equifax: how to dispute
Equifax Canada's page describes two routes:
- Online: request a dispute form by email and submit it online, with up to three attached files. Several pages can go into one PDF.
- Mail: print the form and send it with copies of your documents to Equifax Canada Co., National Consumer Relations, Box 190, Montreal, Quebec H1S 2Z2.
Equifax asks for two valid government-issued IDs, front and back, and a proof of address dated within the last 90 days if your current address is not on the report. Your Nigerian passport plus a Canadian ID such as a driver's licence or PR card would typically cover the two IDs. For account errors, add bank statements or letters from the lender. Equifax gives about 15 to 20 days for online disputes and 20 to 25 days by mail, and sends results by email or post. If it cannot resolve the dispute, you can add a statement of 800 characters or less, free, by mail.
A worked example
Example only. Oluwaseun in Brampton finds a $1,200 collection account on his Equifax report from a phone contract he never signed. TransUnion does not show it.
- He disputes online with Equifax, attaching his passport, PR card and a letter from his real phone provider. Expected answer: about 15 to 20 days.
- He also checks TransUnion and places a fraud alert with both bureaus, since an account he did not open suggests identity theft. FCAC notes the bureaus may ask for ID and may charge for alerts.
- He reports the fraud to the National Fraud Reporting System, as FCAC suggests.
- If the collector insists the debt is his, he asks for the signed contract and adds a consumer statement while he pursues it.
If the bureau will not budge
FCAC says the federal government does not regulate credit bureaus. Start with the bureau itself; if you are still unhappy, contact your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office. Some provinces also let you place a security freeze; remember to lift it before applying for credit. For how long accurate negative items stay, see how long a debt in collections stays on your file, and for rebuilding, building a credit score from zero.
What to check first
- Pull both reports, not one; an error may be on only one of them.
- Write down exactly how your name, date of birth and addresses appear.
- Match each account to your own records and note any you do not recognise.
- Keep copies of every dispute and the date you sent it.
Questions people ask
How long does a credit report dispute take in Canada?
TransUnion says typically within 30 days. Equifax gives about 15 to 20 days online and 20 to 25 days by mail.
Does it cost money to dispute my credit report?
No. FCAC says credit bureaus must correct errors free, and both bureaus' dispute processes are free.
Do I need to dispute with both Equifax and TransUnion?
Yes, if the error appears on both. They keep separate files, and FCAC advises contacting both.
What if the lender says the information is correct?
The entry stays, but you can add a free consumer statement and complain to your provincial consumer affairs office.
Sources
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Check your credit report for errors and fraud (modified 1 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- TransUnion Canada: Credit report disputes · accessed Oct 2026
- Equifax Canada: Dispute your credit report · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.