Equifax vs TransUnion Canada: Complete Comparison

Canada's two credit bureaus — Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada — are completely separate companies. They each collect credit data independently, and not all lenders report to both. This means your Equifax score and your TransUnion score can differ by 20-50 points or more — and both are "correct." Here's a deep dive into what makes each bureau different.

Quick Comparison

Are They Separate from US Equifax and TransUnion?

Yes — completely separate legal entities. Equifax Canada Co. and TransUnion Canada are Canadian subsidiaries operating under Canadian law, regulated by provincial privacy legislation (PIPEDA and provincial consumer reporting acts). Your Canadian credit file is separate from any US credit file.

Why Do Your Scores Differ Between Bureaus?

Several factors cause score differences between Equifax and TransUnion:

• Lender reporting choices: Many Canadian lenders report to only one bureau. A lender may report your on-time payments to Equifax but not to TransUnion, inflating your Equifax score relative to TransUnion.
• Different scoring algorithms: Equifax uses the Equifax Risk Score; TransUnion uses the CreditVision Risk Score. Same inputs can produce different outputs.
• Timing differences: A payment may appear on one bureau's file days before the other.
• Inquiry differences: Hard inquiries are reported by lenders — some only notify one bureau.

Which Bureau Do Lenders Use?

Canadian lenders generally don't disclose which bureau they pull from. However, patterns have emerged:

• Most major banks — typically pull TransUnion; some use both
• Credit unions — varies by institution
• Auto lenders — often TransUnion
• Mortgage brokers — often pull both and use the lower score
• KOHO Credit Building — reports exclusively to Equifax Canada

Which Score Should You Check Before Applying?

Ideally, check both — it's free via Borrowell (Equifax) and Credit Karma (TransUnion). If you know your lender pulls from one bureau, focus on that one. For mortgage applications, assume your broker will check both and use the lower score as the reference point.

How to Improve Your Score on Both Bureaus

The fundamentals improve both scores simultaneously:

1. Pay every account on time — lenders that report to one bureau will update that bureau's file
2. Reduce revolving balances below 30% of your limit on each card
3. Dispute errors with each bureau separately — a correction to your Equifax file does not automatically transfer to TransUnion
4. Add positive data: KOHO Credit Building reports exclusively to Equifax. To boost your TransUnion file, focus on a credit card or line of credit that reports there.

How to Place a Fraud Alert or Credit Freeze

If you suspect identity theft or want to prevent unauthorized inquiries, you can place a fraud alert or security freeze with each bureau independently:

• Equifax Canada fraud alert: 1-800-465-7166 or equifax.ca
• TransUnion Canada security freeze: transunion.ca or 1-800-663-9980

A fraud alert requires lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit. A security freeze (credit freeze) prevents most lenders from pulling your file at all until you temporarily lift it.