Equifax Dispute 2026: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

By Salvador Bernardo, Credit Specialist at FixMyCredit.ca · Published June 27, 2026 · Last updated June 27, 2026

An Equifax dispute is how you get an error on your Equifax credit report investigated and, if it is wrong, corrected — and in Canada it is free. Mistakes on a credit file are more common than most people think, and even one can drag your score down or get you turned down for credit you should qualify for. This step-by-step guide walks you through exactly how to file an Equifax dispute, what happens after you submit it, and how to make sure the correction sticks.

What Is an Equifax Dispute?

An Equifax dispute is a formal request asking Equifax Canada to investigate something on your credit report that you believe is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date. Equifax is one of Canada’s two national credit bureaus, and the information on your file there feeds the credit score lenders use to judge your applications. When that information is wrong, an Equifax dispute is your right and your tool to fix it.

The process is built into Canadian consumer law, and it costs nothing. You do not need a credit-repair company to file an Equifax dispute on your behalf — you can do it yourself directly with the bureau. The bureau is required to investigate a legitimate dispute, contact the company that supplied the information, and correct or remove anything that cannot be verified as accurate.

It helps to remember what an Equifax dispute is not. It is not a way to erase accurate negative information — a late payment that really happened will stay on your file for the time the law allows. What a dispute removes is information that is genuinely wrong: an account that is not yours, a balance that was already paid, or a record that should have aged off your report.

Errors Worth Disputing on Your Equifax Report

Before you file an Equifax dispute, it helps to know what kinds of errors are worth challenging. Some are obvious; others hide in the details and quietly hurt your score. The most common errors worth a dispute include:

• Accounts that are not yours. A loan or card you never opened can signal identity theft or a mix-up with someone of a similar name.
• Wrong account status. A balance you have paid in full still showing as owing, or an account marked late when you paid on time.
• Duplicate accounts. The same debt listed twice, which can make your obligations look larger than they are.
• Outdated information. Negative records that should have aged off your file under Canadian reporting rules but are still showing.
• Incorrect personal details. A wrong name, address, or date of birth that may mean another person’s information has been merged into your file.
• Closed accounts shown as open — or accounts you closed that still appear active.

If you spot any of these, they are fair grounds for an Equifax dispute. Even small errors are worth fixing, because credit scoring is sensitive and an inaccurate record can cost you more than you would expect.

Before You File: Get and Read Your Equifax Credit Report

You cannot dispute what you have not seen, so the first real step is to pull your Equifax credit report and read it carefully. You are entitled to your own report, and checking it yourself is a soft inquiry that never lowers your score. Request it directly from Equifax Canada and set aside time to go through every section.

As you read, compare each entry against your own records. Make a note of anything that looks wrong — the account name, the date, and exactly what is incorrect. The more specific you are, the stronger your Equifax dispute will be, because the bureau and the company that reported the information will need to check the precise detail you are challenging. Gather any proof you have, such as a paid statement, a letter confirming an account was closed, or a payment confirmation.

Reading your report also gives you the bigger picture. If you find several issues, you can raise them together, and you will understand which problems are errors to dispute and which are accurate records you will need to rebuild past over time. Our guide to how to build credit in Canada explains how the scoring factors fit together once your report is accurate.

How to File an Equifax Dispute Step by Step

Once you know exactly what is wrong, filing the Equifax dispute itself is straightforward. You can do it online or by mail, and both methods are free. Here is the step-by-step process:

• Step 1 — Choose your method. Online is the fastest route and lets you track progress; mail works well if you prefer to send physical copies of your supporting documents.
• Step 2 — Complete the dispute form. For an online Equifax dispute, you request the dispute form, fill it in, and submit it through the secure portal, attaching your supporting files. For a mail dispute, you download and print the form, complete it by hand, and include copies — never originals — of your proof.
• Step 3 — Be specific about each item. Identify each disputed entry clearly and explain in plain language why it is wrong. Attach the document that backs up your claim for that item.
• Step 4 — Submit and keep a record. Send the online form, or mail your package to Equifax Canada’s National Consumer Relations department in Montreal. Keep a copy of everything you send and note the date you filed.

A practical tip: attach only the documents that directly prove your point, and keep your explanation short and factual. A focused Equifax dispute is easier for the bureau to investigate than a long, unclear one, and it usually gets resolved faster.

What Happens After You File Your Equifax Dispute

After you submit, Equifax begins an investigation. If it can correct the file from the information you provided, it will. Otherwise, it contacts the company that reported the item — the lender, card issuer, or collection agency — and asks it to verify the information. If that company cannot confirm the entry is accurate, it must be corrected or removed.

An online Equifax dispute is generally processed within about fifteen to twenty days, while a mailed dispute can take a little longer, roughly twenty to twenty-five days, because of mailing time. When the investigation is done, Equifax sends you the results: by email if you filed online, or by letter if you filed by mail. The notice tells you what was changed and shows you an updated view of your file.

When the correction comes through, take a moment to confirm it. Pull a fresh copy of your report and check that the error is gone and that nothing related was missed. If a corrected account was dragging your score, you should see your file strengthen over the following weeks as the accurate information settles in. For more on rebuilding momentum once your report is clean, our guide on raising your credit score covers the habits that move the needle.

If Your Equifax Dispute Is Not Resolved in Your Favour

Sometimes the company that reported the information insists it is accurate, and the entry stays on your file. If that happens and you still disagree, you are not out of options. You have the right to add a brief consumer statement to your credit file, free of charge, explaining your side of the dispute. Lenders who pull your report can then see your explanation alongside the disputed item.

You can also ask the company that reported the information directly for evidence, and you can escalate. If you believe the bureau or the lender has not handled your Equifax dispute properly, you can raise the matter with the credit reporting regulator in your province, which oversees how consumer information is reported. Keeping your records — copies of forms, dates, and any replies — makes any escalation far easier.

Persistence matters. A first dispute that is rejected is not always the end of the story, especially if you can come back with stronger proof. The goal is an accurate file, and you are entitled to keep pushing until your report reflects the truth.

Do Not Forget TransUnion

Equifax is only one of Canada’s two national credit bureaus. The other is TransUnion, and lenders may pull your file from either one. An error on your Equifax report very often appears on your TransUnion file too, because both bureaus collect information from the same lenders and agencies.

So once you have filed your Equifax dispute, check your TransUnion report for the same mistake and dispute it there as well if it appears — our step-by-step TransUnion dispute guide shows you how. Fixing only one bureau leaves the error live on the other, where it can still affect an application. Treat the two as a pair: correct both, and your credit picture is consistent no matter which file a lender checks. Newcomers building a first file in Canada should do the same once they have records at both bureaus — our guide to building credit for newcomers explains how those files begin.

Keeping Your Credit Report Error-Free

Filing an Equifax dispute fixes a problem after it appears; a few simple habits help you catch the next one early or avoid it altogether:

• Check your reports regularly. Reviewing your own file is a soft inquiry that never affects your score. A quick read once or twice a year catches errors while they are easy to fix.
• Keep your records. Hold on to paid statements and closure confirmations. They are the proof that makes any future Equifax dispute quick and convincing.
• Watch for signs of identity theft. An account or inquiry you do not recognise is worth investigating right away, since it can point to fraud as well as a reporting error.
• Update your personal details. Make sure your address and name are current with your lenders, so your information does not get merged with someone else’s.

Staying on top of your file means errors get caught before they cost you. An accurate credit report is the foundation everything else is built on, and a habit of checking it is one of the easiest wins in personal finance.

How Long Do Records Stay on Your Equifax Report?

Part of filing a smart Equifax dispute is knowing the difference between an error you can remove and an accurate record that simply needs time to age off. A dispute will not erase truthful information before its time, so it helps to know roughly how long things last on a Canadian credit file.

Most negative information — late payments, collections, and similar marks — remains on your Equifax report for about six years from the date of the missed payment or the event, after which it should drop off automatically. A bankruptcy can stay longer, and the exact periods vary by province and by the type of record. Accounts in good standing can remain much longer, which works in your favour, because a long history of on-time payments strengthens your file.

This is where an Equifax dispute and patience work together. If a negative item is past the period it is allowed to be reported, that is a clear, winnable Equifax dispute — the record should have aged off and did not. But if an accurate mark is still within its reporting window, the better strategy is to build positive history around it until it ages off on its own. Knowing which situation you are in tells you whether to file a dispute or to focus on rebuilding.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an Equifax dispute cost?

Nothing. Filing an Equifax dispute in Canada is free, whether you do it online or by mail. You never need to pay a company to dispute an error for you — you have the right to file directly with the bureau yourself at no cost.

How long does an Equifax dispute take?

An online dispute is usually processed within about fifteen to twenty days, and a mailed dispute in roughly twenty to twenty-five days because of mailing time. Equifax notifies you of the results by email or letter once the investigation is complete.

Can I dispute an Equifax error online?

Yes. You can file an Equifax dispute online through the secure dispute portal, where you complete the form and attach your supporting documents. Online is the fastest method and lets you track the progress of your dispute.

What if my Equifax dispute is rejected?

If the bureau confirms the item as accurate and you still disagree, you can add a free consumer statement to your file explaining your side, ask the reporting company for evidence, and escalate to your provincial credit-reporting regulator. Coming back with stronger proof can also reopen the matter.

Will disputing hurt my credit score?

No. Filing an Equifax dispute does not lower your score, and checking your own report is a soft inquiry that has no effect either. If anything, correcting an error can help your score by removing inaccurate negative information.

Should I also dispute with TransUnion?

Usually, yes. The same error often appears on both bureaus, so after your Equifax dispute, check your TransUnion report and dispute the mistake there too. Correcting both keeps your credit file consistent no matter which bureau a lender uses.

Your Report, Your Right to Accuracy

An Equifax dispute puts a powerful, free tool in your hands: the right to make your credit report tell the truth. Pull your report, flag exactly what is wrong, file a clear and well-documented dispute, follow it through to the result, and repeat the check with TransUnion. None of it is complicated, and the payoff — an accurate file and a fairer shot at the credit you deserve — is worth the effort. If your credit picture is tangled up with debt or collections, you do not have to sort it out alone.

About the Author

For general information only; not financial advice. FixMyCredit.ca is a free referral service that connects Canadians with credit help — we do not issue cards or offer loans. Dispute timelines and outcomes depend on Equifax and the company that reported the information. Confirm the current process with Equifax Canada, TransUnion Canada, and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.