Equifax is one of the two major credit bureaus in Canada, and the online dispute portal is the fastest way to challenge an error on your Equifax file. This guide walks through exactly how the portal works in 2026, what to have ready before you start, and what happens after you submit.
If you are new to disputes in general, start with our overview of how to dispute errors on your Canadian credit report, then come back here for the Equifax-specific steps.
What You Need Before You Start
You need three things before you file an Equifax dispute online. First, a myEquifax account (free to create at equifax.ca). Second, a copy of your current Equifax credit report so you can point to the specific item being disputed. Third, digital copies of any documents that support your dispute, such as bank statements, payoff letters, court orders, or identification if the issue is an address or name error.
The portal accepts PDF, PNG, and JPG uploads up to a limited file size per attachment. Scan or photograph documents in advance and have them named clearly so you can find them during submission.
Creating Your myEquifax Account
If you have not pulled your Equifax report in the past year, you will need to create an account. Equifax verifies your identity using questions based on your credit history. These questions can be specific, such as the name of a past lender or the payment amount on a closed loan, so it helps to have a recent report or statements nearby when you sign up.
Newcomers to Canada with a thin file sometimes cannot complete the knowledge-based verification. If that happens, Equifax falls back to a mail-based verification that takes 7 to 14 days. For newcomers specifically, our guide on credit repair for newcomers to Canada covers the extra steps.
Filing the Dispute Step by Step
Once logged in, the dispute center is under the "Dispute Information on Your Credit Report" menu. The flow asks you to select which type of error you are challenging: personal information, account information, public record, or inquiry. Picking the right category is important because it determines which follow-up questions you see.
Next, the portal shows a list of items from your current report. You select the specific line being disputed. For account errors, this means selecting the creditor name and the account in question. For public record errors, you select the court or agency that reported the entry. For inquiry errors, you pick the lender that ran the inquiry.
After selecting the item, you describe the error in your own words. Keep this short and factual. "This late payment is incorrect. I paid on time and have the bank statement to prove it." works better than a paragraph of frustration. The investigator needs to understand the error in under 10 seconds.
Finally, you upload supporting documents. This is where most disputes succeed or fail. A dispute with no evidence usually comes back verified (meaning the creditor confirmed the item as-is). A dispute with one clear supporting document has a much higher removal rate.
What Documents Actually Work
For disputed late payments, upload the bank or credit card statement showing the on-time payment. Highlight the relevant line.
For accounts that are not yours, upload your government ID and a short written statement explaining you do not recognize the account. If you suspect identity theft, also include a police report if you have one. See our guide on disputing fraudulent accounts from identity theft.
For collections you have paid off, upload the payoff letter from the collector showing a zero balance.
For incorrect personal information, upload a government-issued ID or utility bill showing the correct name or address.
Timeline and What to Expect
Equifax has 30 days under Canadian law to investigate most disputes. During that window, Equifax contacts the creditor or agency that reported the item and asks them to verify. If the creditor cannot verify within the 30-day window, the item must be corrected or removed. For a closer look at the day-by-day timeline, see how long does an Equifax dispute take in Canada.
You can check the status of a pending dispute in myEquifax under the dispute center. Status updates are limited to "in progress" or "completed," so do not expect a play-by-play.
If the Dispute Is Denied
A denied dispute is not the end of the road. You have five realistic escalation paths, including re-disputing with new evidence, going directly to the creditor, filing an FCAC complaint, or escalating to your provincial consumer protection office. All of these are covered in Equifax rejected my dispute, now what.
When to Hand This Off
Single, straightforward disputes with clear documentation (one incorrect late payment, one small collection you paid off) are realistic DIY work. The math changes when you have multiple items, complex situations like a discharged consumer proposal still reporting as active, or disputes that keep getting verified despite clear evidence.
At that point, professional help saves time and raises removal rates. Our team handles the full dispute process in 8 languages. Flat fee, free initial consultation, no monthly payments.
Call (437) 755-6579 or book online. We pull both your Equifax and TransUnion reports during the consultation and tell you exactly which items are worth disputing and what evidence will give each one the best chance.