In Canada, a credit report and credit score is used by many different institutions, including banks, credit agencies, and even employers. These documents contain important information about your borrowing and repayment habits, and provide a detailed account of your past financial history. Even though these reports are so important, many Canadians are not familiar with the process of requesting and understanding the credit score.

Understanding your credit score is important for a number of reasons. One of the most important is because, whenever you apply for credit, be it a mortgage, automotive financing, or a credit card, your credit report is pulled by the lending institution and assessed. In order to qualify, you must meet certain qualifications with regard to the report, and so knowing where you stand is crucial.

What if your credit score is less than stellar? Too much credit, being too close to your limits or too many late or missed payments can severely reduce your credit score.

In order to bring the score up, it might be prudent to speak with a financial debt consultant to discuss some options to reduce your debt and regain those lost credit points. Debt consolidation or consumer proposals are great options to help you get rid of your debt.

So, do you know how to check your credit score and credit report? Here is some important information that will help.

Requesting your credit score is actually quite simple. There are a few different credit reporting agencies in Canada, but the most popular are TransUnion and Equifax. Both of these agencies provide online copies of your credit report and credit score for a fee – simply visit the website, enter in some identity confirming information, and you will be able to print your credit report and credit score.

Another reason that it is important to understand how to check your credit score and credit report is to make sure that everything it contains is accurate. Credit reporting agencies can make mistakes when compiling the information, and if something is reported incorrectly this can harm your overall credit. It is important to check your report regularly in order to find any mistakes and remedy them. That being said, when a mistake is brought to the attention of a credit reporting agency you may find yourself frustrated by the amount of back and forth that takes place. If you find yourself having a hard time dealing with those credit reporting agencies and their unwillingness to accept responsibility or fix the incorrect data, contact a financial consultant who can help get the issue resolved.

If you want more information about how to check your credit score and how to understand your credit report, please contact DebtCare Canada by calling 888-890-0888 or visit www.debtcare.ca.