Credit Rating
Trustees do not report to or have access to Credit Bureau information.
Every piece of credit history information in your credit file is assigned a
rating by the credit grantor. The most common ratings are "R" ratings. These
are known as North American Standard Account Ratings and are the most frequently
used. The "R" indicates that the item being described involves revolving credit.
If you always pay on time, it will be coded an R1. If an amount was written off
because you never paid it back, it is coded R9. The R ratings are a coding system
that translates "on time", "one month late", "two months late", etc., into
two-digit codes.
Your Credit Rating - What it Means
| R0 |
Too new to rate; approved but not used |
| R1 |
Pays (or paid) within 30 days of payment due date or not over one payment past due |
| R2 |
Pays (or paid) in more than 30 days from payment due date, but not more than 60 days, or not more than two payments past due |
| R3 |
Pays (or paid) in more than 60 days from payment due date, but not more than 90 days, or not more than three payments past due |
| R4 |
Pays (or paid) in more than 90 days from payment due date, but not more than 120 days, or four payments past due |
| R5 |
Account is at least 120 days overdue, but is not yet rated "9" |
| R7 |
Making regular payments through a special arrangement to settle your debts re: O.P.D. or Proposal |
| R8 |
Repossession (voluntary or involuntary return of merchandise) |
| R9 |
Bad debt; placed for collection; moved without giving a new address; bankruptcy |
Other rating indicators that might be found on a report are "I" for installment credit or "O" for open credit line.
Investigating Your Own Credit Rating
Under consumer legislation governed by each province, you are entitled to a copy of all the information a credit agency has on you.
There are three credit reporting agencies in Canada: Equifax, Northern Credit Bureaus and Trans Union.
If you want a copy of your credit report, mail or fax a request with copies of two pieces of identification to the companies. In a couple of weeks, they will mail your report to you. The service is free.
If you do not wish to wait, you can visit the offices of Credit Counselling Services of Alberta in Edmonton or Edmonton to obtain a copy of your Equifax Credit Report. The cost is $15.00 and you must bring 2 pieces of ID. OR purchase your credit report online from Equifax for $14.50
You can dispute errors in your report. Information on how to dispute bad information is included in the written credit report you will receive from the bureau.
The credit bureau is obligated to review your complaints, however you must supply all the material they ask for on their forms. The forms, which accompany your personal credit report, explain how to file disputes and get corrections made. It can be a drawn out process, but be persistent.
If the credit bureau won't correct your file, ask them to mark the file "in dispute." You may also exercise your right to have a statement (100 words or less) inserted into your credit report to explain your side of the story to potential creditors.
A final note: if you cannot get the agency to make changes, you may want to contact your provincial consumer department.
In Alberta, try contacting Alberta Government Services.
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Equifax Canada
Consumer Relations Department
Box 190 Jean Talon Station
Montreal, Quebec
H1S 2Z2
Tel: ( 514 ) 493-2314
1 800 465-7166
Fax: ( 514 ) 355-8502
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Purchase your credit report online from Equifax for $14.50
OR download and send them them Request Form.
Equifax Credit Rating
Request Form (PDF)
To request a copy of your credit rating, download and print the above form.
Fill out the form, then mail or fax the form along with copies of two pieces of identification. In a couple of weeks, they will mail your report to you.
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Trans Union
Consumer Relations
709 Main Street W Suite 3201
Hamilton, On L8S 1A2
Tel: 1 800 663 9980
Fax: ( 905 ) 527-0401
OR
Trans Union
#202, 1409 Edmonton Trail NE
Edmonton, Alberta T2E 3K8
Phone: (403) 276-7808
Fax: (403) 230-3835
Cost: $15.00
Northern Credit Bureaus
336 Rideau Boulevard
Rouyn - Noranda, QC J9X 1P2
Fax: 1 (800) 646-5876
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