Negative items on your credit report can follow you for up to 7 years in Canada, making it harder to get approved for mortgages, car loans, and credit cards. But not all negative items are permanent, and some can be removed.
What Can Be Removed?
The key question is whether the item is accurate. Under Canadian consumer protection laws, credit bureaus are required to report accurate information. If something on your report is inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable, you have the right to dispute it.
Common items that can often be removed include: errors in account information, accounts that aren't yours, duplicate entries, collections that were paid but still show as outstanding, and late payments that were reported incorrectly.
What Usually Can't Be Removed?
Accurate negative information generally stays on your report for the prescribed period. A late payment that actually happened, a collection for a debt you actually owed, or a bankruptcy you actually filed will typically remain.
However, even accurate items sometimes get removed if the creditor can't verify them when challenged, or if there are procedural issues with how they were reported.
The Dispute Process
You can dispute items directly with the credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion) by mail or online. When you dispute, the bureau must investigate within 30 days. They contact the creditor who reported the item and ask them to verify it.
If the creditor can't verify the item, or doesn't respond, the bureau must remove it. This is why professional credit repair can be effective. We know how to identify items that may be unverifiable and how to properly challenge them.
How Long Does It Take?
A single dispute cycle takes about 30-45 days. Complex cases with multiple items may take 2-3 cycles (90 days or more). Most of our clients see significant improvement within 60-90 days.
Is It Worth It?
Consider the cost of bad credit: higher interest rates, denied applications, larger security deposits. A 100-point improvement in your score can save you thousands in interest over the life of a mortgage or car loan.