COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Your Credit Score

Equifax is continuing to closely monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation and its significant financial impact on consumers and businesses around the globe. That’s why we are taking measures to support consumers impacted by the Coronavirus while also working with creditors and lenders to help minimize the effects on consumers’ credit standing.

What to do if you’re having trouble paying your bills

The first thing to do is contact the lender, credit card company or organization to which you owe payment. Many organizations are offering special programs to assist people who experience difficulties related to Coronavirus. They may allow you to delay or reduce payments, depending on your situation.

When you ask your creditor about an assistance program, be sure to understand any additional fees that may be involved as well as how interest calculations may be affected.

How special assistance programs are reported to credit bureaus

As a registered Canadian credit bureau, Equifax compiles and maintains data on individuals in the form of a credit report. We are committed to maintaining fair and accurate credit information about Canadians. The effects of the Coronavirus on the Canadian credit ecosystem continue to evolve and many organizations are offering special payment programs to assist customers financially impacted by the pandemic. We understand that people are concerned about how deferred payments and other special arrangements may affect credit scores. We are working together as an industry to help minimize any negative impact on credit standing while maintaining the data integrity that underpins our ecosystem. The specific details continue to evolve and we will share more information as the plans are finalized.

Contacting Equifax

Due to COVID-19 protocols and requirements, you may experience longer than normal wait times. Our agents are available to assist you from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, Eastern Time, Saturday and Sunday (except holidays). We appreciate your understanding. Due to COVID-19, we have temporarily closed our Equifax Consumer Walk-Up Centre in Toronto.

Getting your credit report

There are two ways you can obtain free copies of your credit report. There are some differences between the options, which are described below.

 

How it’s delivered to you

How long it takes

Company delivering it

Differences in the credit report information

Other notes

Option 1:
Online (free)

Online

Immediate

Equifax Canada Co.

Includes the most recent information that has been sent to Equifax by your creditors and others organizations which report to credit bureaus. Does not include the payment profile tables which are contained within your free Equifax Canada consumer credit report.
A payment profile table lists your historical monthly payments and balances for a particular account, spanning a period of up to 25 months.

Your Equifax Canada credit report is made available to you on myEquifax a platform provided by Equifax Canada in coordination with its affiliate,  Equifax Consumer Services LLC, a U.S. company and your data will be stored in the United States.

Option 2:
By mail (free)

Postal mail

Processing time at Equifax plus Canada Post delivery time

Equifax Canada

Includes the most recent information that has been sent to Equifax by your creditors and others organizations which report to credit bureaus.
Includes historical payment information described above.

Your data remains in Canada

Due to Covid-19, processing times are longer than normal to receive your free Equifax credit report by mail. We appreciate your patience.

 

Why you should check your credit report

Checking your credit reports regularly is one of the best ways you can monitor your credit standing. Reviewing the report will help you understand your credit position, ensure accounts are being reported accurately, and possibly identify inaccurate or incomplete information. If you see anything that doesn’t look correct on your Equifax credit report, here are the steps to follow.


How to minimize the effect of Coronavirus on your credit standing

  • Talk to your lenders and creditors and see if any assistance is available.
  • Pay what you can. To avoid having late payments show up on your credit reports, try to make at least the minimum payment on accounts, or pay any amount you and the lender or creditor agree upon.
  • Stay up-to-date on your credit reports.
  • Consider adding a consumer statement to your credit reports. You can add a statement to your credit report, free of charge. If your statement is 400 words or less, it will be added to your credit file, and will be included each time your credit file is accessed. An example of a consumer statement: “Be advised that the negative accounts on my credit report are related to the Coronavirus. I intend to make these up as soon as I can.”

Please send your statement in writing to Equifax, along with your name, address, date of birth and phone number. You will also need to provide photocopies of two valid pieces of identification. If you have the Equifax Unique Number from your credit report, that is also helpful.

Mail

Equifax Canada Co.
National Consumer Relations
Box 190
Montreal, Quebec H1S 2Z2
 

To remove the consumer statement, you must also do so by writing to the above address.