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Free online canadian credit reports?

ZeonZeon Registered User regular
edited April 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
I just got my electricity transferred into my name and theres a 160 dollar security deposit. This can be waived 1 of 2 ways, first is a reference from a utility i pay (i didnt have any before now, always lived in apartments with utilities included) and the second is a credit score check. They said i can provide one, or they can get one for 16 dollars, but my score has to be 630 or higher, otherwise i pay for the security deposit anyway.

So im wondering, i know in the US there are sites you can pull a credit score for free once a year. Is there a similar service in canada? I dont trust any website I find through google if it involves punching in personal details that would let someone steal my identity. So if someone has a recommendation or knows how i can get a copy of my credit score for free, thatd be great.

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Posts

  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I don't trust any of the sites that claim to offer a free report. You can, however, go into the nearest Trans Union office and get one on the spot for free. That's what I did when I had a fraudulent Rogers account under my name.

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  • ZeonZeon Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Looking at their website it looks like you can only get a Credit Disclosure free, which is just a list of accounts you have open in your name. I need a credit report, with my score number so i can show the new utility company. Im trying to avoid spending the 15 bucks just to find out i have to spend 160 bucks anyway. It seems odd to me that in a country that claims to have such great consumer protection, theres no way to see your credit score for free...

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  • taliosfalcontaliosfalcon Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    630 is a fairly low score, unless you've consistently paid off credit cards late/have run out on payments and have debt collectors after you it's a pretty safe bet you'll be over that, so its *probably* a good choice to just pay the 15$ for a report

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  • ZeonZeon Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    The only thing im worried about is my credit card, i dont miss the minimum payments but im running a fairly high balance. Other than that, ive had 6 years of consecutive on-time payments with TD bank loans, always pay my utilities, etc. But Ive never actually seen my credit report so i have no idea what to expect in terms of score.

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  • taliosfalcontaliosfalcon Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Yeah you're fine then. They actually like people who run high balances better/it equals a better score if you only pay the minimums. Just as an example i've had nothing but a credit card that I always pay off completely as soon as I use it(no utilities, included in my rent) which generally equals a lower score for three years and mine was 840 last I checked.

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  • JHunzJHunz Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    You can't actually get your score for free in the US either (barring promotions). You can get your full report for free from any of the three agencies, but the score is left off unless you pay for it.

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  • CycophantCycophant Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    If you're going to go the route of paying to get the report, you might as well pay $14 yourself and get your report online through TransUnion.ca; then at least you'll be able to keep the results. I bet if you paid the utility company to do it for you, they won't hand over your report once they're done with it. Plus they're charging a dollar more than the website does :P

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  • RuckusRuckus Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    http://www.transunion.ca/ca/personal/creditreport/consumerdisclosure_en.page

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  • FiggyFiggy Fighter of the night man Champion of the sunRegistered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Zeon wrote: »
    The only thing im worried about is my credit card, i dont miss the minimum payments but im running a fairly high balance. Other than that, ive had 6 years of consecutive on-time payments with TD bank loans, always pay my utilities, etc. But Ive never actually seen my credit report so i have no idea what to expect in terms of score.

    They would rather you keep paying the minimum and run a balance than pay the full card. Your score will be higher, at least from what I've learned on "Till Debt Do Us Part."

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  • NylonathetepNylonathetep Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Just one more thing: Don't check it often. Each check deduct 5pts from your beacon score. R9 = bad / R1 = Good credit. R0 means you don't use the credit available and to some creditors that could also be a bad thing.

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  • RuckusRuckus Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Nylonathetep wrote: »
    Just one more thing: Don't check it often. Each check deduct 5pts from your beacon score. R9 = bad / R1 = Good credit. R0 means you don't use the credit available and to some creditors that could also be a bad thing.

    Checking your credit report does not affect your score in Canada.

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