TransUnion is the other major Canadian credit bureau alongside Equifax, and its online dispute process is the fastest way to challenge an error on your TransUnion file. Here is the full walkthrough.
If you have not disputed anything on a credit report before, read our overview on how to dispute errors on your Canadian credit report first, then use this guide for the TransUnion-specific parts.
Accessing the TransUnion Canada Dispute Center
TransUnion Canada maintains a separate consumer portal at transunion.ca. This is different from the TransUnion US portal, and the two do not share accounts. If you previously had a TransUnion account in the US, you need to create a new one here.
The Canadian portal requires identity verification. TransUnion asks three to five knowledge-based questions drawn from your credit history, such as the monthly payment on a past loan or the lender on a closed account. Recent newcomers or people with a thin file sometimes need to complete verification by mail, which adds 10 to 14 days.
Creating Your Account and Pulling Your Report
Before you file a dispute, you need the current TransUnion report in front of you. You can pull a free report once per year through TransUnion Canada. The free annual version does not include your score, but the score is not needed for a dispute. You only need to identify the specific item.
Once you have the report, highlight the item being disputed. TransUnion asks for the exact creditor name, account number (or last four digits), and the reason for the dispute. Having the report open while you submit makes this much faster.
Filing the Dispute Step by Step
The dispute section is in the consumer portal under "Dispute a Credit Report Item." You pick the category first: tradeline account, public record, inquiry, or personal information. Each category has its own set of follow-up questions.
Next, you select the specific item from your report. For tradelines this means picking the exact account. For inquiries, it means picking the lender that pulled your file. Only items currently reporting on your file appear here. If you are trying to dispute an old item that has already fallen off, you cannot do it through this portal.
You then describe the error. Be specific and concise. "This account belongs to my father. We share the same first and last name. I never applied for this card." is stronger than "This is not my account."
The final step is evidence upload. TransUnion accepts PDF, PNG, and JPG. Unlike Equifax, the TransUnion portal sometimes has file-size issues with phone photos. If an upload fails, try compressing the image or saving as PDF.
Required Documentation
Document requirements are similar to Equifax. For disputed payment status, upload the statement showing what actually happened. For accounts you do not recognize, upload government ID and a short written statement. For collections, upload proof of payment or proof that the debt is not yours. For personal information errors, upload an ID or utility bill.
For disputes related to a consumer proposal or bankruptcy, a copy of the discharge or completion certificate from your LIT is the single most powerful document you can attach. See consumer proposal rebuild complete guide for which bureau errors are most common post-completion.
Timeline and Outcomes
TransUnion has 30 days to investigate under Canadian law. The investigation involves contacting the data furnisher (the creditor or agency that reported the item) and asking them to verify. If they cannot verify within 30 days, TransUnion must correct or remove the item. For a day-by-day breakdown, see how long does a TransUnion dispute take in Canada.
Outcomes fall into three categories: removed (the item is deleted from your report), corrected (the item remains but is updated), or verified (the creditor confirmed the item as reported). A verified result does not mean the item is correct. It means the creditor stood by it, which may or may not reflect reality.
When TransUnion Rejects Your Dispute
If TransUnion verifies an item you know is wrong, you have escalation options. Re-dispute with stronger evidence, file directly with the creditor, file an FCAC complaint, or escalate to provincial consumer protection. The full playbook is in TransUnion rejected my dispute, now what.
One Important Note About Two Bureaus
Equifax and TransUnion do not share data. You need to file disputes with each bureau separately even if the same error appears on both reports. This is covered in more depth in our comparison of Equifax vs TransUnion Canada.
When Professional Help Makes Sense
A single dispute is DIY work. Multiple disputes, complex situations (post-consumer-proposal cleanup, identity theft, newcomer identity errors), or repeated verifications despite clear evidence are where professional help starts paying for itself. Our team files and tracks disputes with both bureaus in 8 languages.
Call (437) 755-6579 for a free initial consultation. We pull both reports, identify what is actually disputable, and build the strongest possible case for each item. Flat fee, no monthly payments.