Privacy Policy

Information in your credit file collected, used and disclosed by Equifax is limited to the information that Equifax is permitted to collect under applicable credit reporting and privacy laws. Where it is available, Equifax collects and maintains the following personal information in consumer credit files:

Identifying information - key identification information that allows Equifax to match a person with his or her credit file, and including information such as name, address, date of birth and, if the person voluntarily provided it to a credit grantor, his or her Social Insurance Number.

Inquiries - a list of persons and companies that have requested a copy of the consumer's credit report.

Public record information - details on any publicly available information such as secured loans, bankruptcies, court orders and judgments.

Third-party collection agency - information about any involvement by a collection agency trying to settle a debt owed by the consumer to a creditor.

Trade information - details of a consumer¿s credit transactions and the manner in which payments are being and have previously been made.

Consumer statement - a brief written statement that may be provided by the consumer to clarify information in his or her credit file.

Equifax does not collect or maintain any information in a consumer's credit file related to:

medical history;

commercial enterprises;

the name of a spouse or same-sex partner or information on the consumer¿s dependents;

race, colour, creed, religion or other similar personal information.

In addition to your credit information, Equifax may also collect personal information when you have direct contact with us for other reasons. Information collected by Equifax in these circumstances does not become part of your credit file. If it is maintained, this type of information is stored completely separately from your credit information and is not accessible by Equifax customers.

Some examples of situations when personal information may be collected that is not included in your credit information include:

Equifax limits the use, disclosure and retention of your credit information in accordance with applicable credit reporting and privacy laws. An Equifax customer must have your consent and a purpose permitted by law to access Equifax consumer credit reports. All Equifax customers are required to go through the Equifax application screening process and access is not granted to all applicants. The customers that are accepted by Equifax are carefully screened and contractually obliged to respect and abide by all applicable credit reporting and privacy laws. Equifax conducts periodic audits to ensure that Equifax customers are acting in compliance with their contractual and legal obligations.

As a Canadian consumer, you have the right to know the full and complete content of your Equifax consumer credit file. Equifax will disclose your credit information to you free of charge by mail or telephone. Equifax will respond to any questions or concerns that you may have regarding your Equifax consumer credit file. For information about how to obtain a copy of your personal information, please refer to the FAQ section at the end of this Policy.

Credit information in your consumer credit file is maintained in accordance with legislated data retention guidelines.

Information collected directly from you when you contact Equifax or purchase a service from us is used to bill you for your order, provide better customer support services, and to facilitate the delivery of enhanced services and products in the future. Personal information collected from you when you submit a resume or job application is only used for the purpose of evaluating your employment potential. Equifax does not disclose information collected from you for these purposes, and this information does not become part of your consumer credit file.

Equifax may be required to disclose personal information to a third party if a law, regulation, subpoena etc, legally obliges it to do so. In cases where Equifax is required to disclose your personal information as a result of a legal inquiry or order, we will take steps to verify that the order is enforceable and will then disclose only the information that is required to comply with the order. Generally, when your personal information is disclosed as a result of a legal inquiry or order, you will be entitled to know of the disclosure.

Equifax is committed to collecting, using and disclosing the most accurate information reasonably available to it. If you have reviewed your credit file and believe that an item is not accurately reported, please complete the Consumer Credit Update Form which accompanies the consumer credit file you receive from Equifax and mail it to: Equifax Canada Inc., Consumer Relations Department, Box 190 Jean Talon Station, Montreal, Quebec, H1S 2Z2. You may also call Equifax Consumer Relations at 1-800-465-7166.

Upon receipt of your Consumer Credit Update Form regarding the information that you are disputing, Equifax will contact the source of the information reported in your credit file to verify the item. If we are unable to confirm a particular piece of information, we will remove it from your credit file. If we receive updated information from the person or company that provided it, we will adjust the information.

If we make any changes to your credit file, we will send you a revised credit report showing the changes which were made as a result of the dispute resolution process. We will also, upon your request, send your revised credit file to any Equifax customer who may have recently received your credit report.

If, after verification with the provider of the disputed information, Equifax has confirmed the information is accurate and you still have a concern, Equifax will, upon your request, include a statement about the disputed information on your credit file.

If at any time your personal information changes, please do not hesitate to contact Equifax. This is important because it will help potential credit grantors verify your identity and review your credit history when you apply for credit.

Equifax takes the protection and security of your personal information very seriously. Our Chief Privacy Officer is responsible for overseeing and ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your personal information by complying with PIPEDA requirements.

Equifax appreciates the sensitive nature of the information it maintains and has implemented strict safeguards to keep it safe. This includes ensuring that when Equifax destroys old information and records, it does so in a safe and secure way. These standards are in place for all information, regardless of how it is stored. Equifax regularly reviews, tests and enhances its systems to assure that they meet accepted industry security standards.

In addition to these data protection and security protocols, Equifax also limits the employees who may access your personal information. Access to your consumer credit file is restricted to employees who have a specific need to access your information in order to discuss it with you, to generate a consumer credit report, or to conduct investigations to verify and correct information in your file. Maintaining the confidentiality of information they access during the course of their duties is a key condition of employment with Equifax, and this applies to every employee of our company. To support our commitment to protecting your personal information, Equifax conducts ongoing professional development training to educate its employees about privacy awareness and security issues.

As a consumer, you must also take reasonable steps to safeguard your own information. Some things you can do include:

protecting the PIN (personal identification number) codes associated with your bank and credit cards;

storing your SIN (social insurance number) card in a secure place; and,

advising Equifax if you suspect you have been the victim of identity theft or credit fraud.

Please be aware that Equifax cannot guarantee the security of information you may transmit online. If you are concerned about the security of the information you send to Equifax, you may wish to consider using a secure method of delivery.

If you have any questions about this policy or Equifax¿s practices and procedures for managing your personal information, please contact us at:

Chief Privacy Officer
Equifax Canada Inc.
5650 Yonge St., 13th floor
Toronto, ON M2M 4G3

chief.privacy.officer@equifax.com

We would be pleased to provide you with a printed copy of this policy upon your request.

Equifax may amend this policy from time to time and may include additional schedules and appendices. The version of the Privacy Policy that appears on the Equifax Canada Inc. website will always be the most current version.

This policy is intended to provide information about Equifax¿s approach to privacy matters and its obligations in handling personal information.

All Canadian consumers are entitled to receive a full and complete copy their Equifax credit file at no charge, upon request. If you have any special needs and require assistance preparing a request to obtain a copy of your credit file, Equifax Consumer Relations can help you.

Requests for access to personal information Equifax may have recorded about you that is not part of your credit file (e.g. information collected when you purchased a product from us) must be made in writing.

Equifax is committed to respond to all consumer requests for access to their personal information, including their consumer credit files, within the time periods prescribed by applicable law.

In the unlikely event that we are unable to provide you with the information you request, we will notify you in writing of the reasons.

Equifax will respond to any concern, inquiry or complaint you may have regarding our Privacy Policy or the privacy of your personal information. Your will be referred to a trained Equifax agent who will work with you to address your concerns. If a privacy concern is not resolved to your satisfaction, Equifax employees will escalate the matter internally in an effort to resolve it. Any unresolved issues will ultimately be referred to the Chief Privacy Officer.

For more information about Equifax¿s Privacy Policy or to advise us of a privacy concern, you are invited to contact the Chief Privacy Officer by mail or e-mail at:

Chief Privacy Officer
Equifax Canada Inc.
5650 Yonge St., 13th floor
Toronto, ON M2M 4G3

chief.privacy.officer@equifax.com

All inquiries and concerns will receive a response and will be investigated. After an investigation has been completed, we will notify you of our findings and any corrective action that may have been taken.

 EQUIFAX CANADA'S COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY

Equifax prides itself on being a trusted steward of personal information and is committed to protecting the privacy of all personal information under its control. We are publishing this Privacy Policy to provide a comprehensive overview of our practices and procedures relating to the protection of personal information as well as its use, collection and disclosure.

Many provinces have laws that specifically protect consumer credit information. The laws vary from one jurisdiction to the next, but most are similar in their intent. The federal government has also enacted the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, which governs the protection of personal information and electronic data. Some provinces have also adopted local privacy legislation. To ensure consistent service to consumers across Canada, Equifax has based this Privacy Policy on the federal law.

Equifax Statement of Consumer Rights

Equifax believes that Canadians have the following fundamental rights:

The right to know what information has been collected, stored and reported about them.

The right to be able to review the information reported about them in a reasonable time, in a format that is understandable, and with an ability to challenge and correct inaccurate information.

The right to expect that the information about them that is collected or stored will not be used for any purposes other than those permitted by law.

The right to have information about them safeguarded using secure storage, confidential handling within the organization, and secure transmittal to authorized and legitimate users.

The right to be treated with respect and fairness when information about them is used.

The right to privacy consistent with the requests and demands they make of business.

The right to expect levels of accuracy consistent with the industry's best practices of record keeping and information systems management.

The right to have their applications for benefits or opportunities evaluated on the basis of relevant and accurate information.

1.) Why does Equifax collect, use and disclose my personal information?
Equifax is a credit reporting agency. We collect information from a variety of sources about consumers financial and credit transactions in order to provide our customers with consumer credit reports that show consumers' recent credit history.

2.) What is included in my credit file?
Equifax only records and retains information that is relevant to your credit history and sufficient to identify you with your credit file. For example, our credit database does not include information about your race, creed, religion, health or lifestyle. The information that we are permitted to retain and disclose in credit reports is governed by credit reporting and privacy legislation.

3.) Where does Equifax obtain the information that becomes part of my credit file?
All of the information in our consumer credit database comes from verifiable public records (e.g. court orders and bankruptcy filings), credit grantors, and directly from consumers. We do not seek or accept information from any other sources. This helps us ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in our database. As our sources report new information, we automatically update your credit file to reflect the most currently available information.

4.) May I review my credit file?
Yes. As a Canadian consumer, you have the right to know the contents of your Equifax credit file. You may obtain a copy of your file free of charge by mail or telephone or for a reasonable fee through our website. For more information about how to obtain a copy of your consumer credit report, please see Question 11 below.

5.) What if I find something in my credit file that is inaccurate?
If you notice any information in your credit file that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, please let us know. Equifax will investigate any information contained in your credit file upon your request by contacting the source of the information. If the investigation finds that the information is not accurate or complete, Equifax will make the necessary corrections and send you an updated copy of your credit file.

6.) May I add or change information in my credit file?
Equifax strives to maintain the accuracy of the information in our credit database. If you review your credit file and notice key information is missing or inaccurate, please use the form provided to notify us of the correct information. Equifax will conduct the necessary investigation to verify the information you provide, and once it is confirmed we will include it in your credit file.

7.) What if I disagree with the conclusion of your investigation? If you are not satisfied with the conclusion of our investigation into any information in your credit file, you may provide us with a brief written statement to be included in your credit file. This statement will be included on any future credit report.

If you feel that Equifax has failed to meet its obligations to you as a consumer, you may make a complaint to the Equifax Chief Privacy Officer, or to your provincial registrar of reporting agencies or the Federal Privacy Commissioner.

8.) How does Equifax obtain my consent to disclose my information? Equifax's customers must obtain your consent before we will disclose your credit report to them. They may obtain your consent in writing, verbally or electronically. Equifax periodically audits our customers' records to verify that they have obtained the required consent.

When you request a copy of your credit file directly from Equifax, we will ask you to verify your identity and to consent to the disclosure to you of an up-to-date copy of the information in your credit file.

9.) How does a person or company become an Equifax customer? Equifax screens all new customers before they are allowed to request consumer credit information. The criteria for acceptance as a customer is very strict, and not all requests for access are granted. The screening process includes a review of the applicant's business and an on-site visit to verify that the prospective customer has a legitimate reason to request consumer credit reports, and the necessary security systems to protect them. Every Equifax customer is required to respect and adhere to all applicable credit reporting and privacy laws.

10.) How does Equifax store my information and how do I know it is secure? Equifax takes its duty to protect your privacy very seriously, and treats your information with a great deal of care and sensitivity. All information maintained by Equifax is stored using accepted industry security standards and data protection protocols.

11.) How do I obtain a free copy of my credit report from Equifax? Equifax will disclose your credit information to you free of charge by mail or telephone. Equifax will also respond to any questions or concerns that you may have regarding your Equifax consumer credit file.

Equifax has an Interactive Voice Response System for consumer credit file disclosures. By dialing 1-800-465-7166 you can order a copy of your credit report over the phone by entering certain required information to verify your identity. The report will be delivered by mail directly to your home address.

In addition to the Interactive Voice Response System, you can request a copy of your credit file by mailing or faxing a photocopy of two pieces of signed valid identification, including at least one with photo identification. Examples of acceptable identification include a driver¿s license, birth certificate, social insurance number (optional), and passport. A copy of your file is mailed to you once your identity is confirmed. Once the identification you provided has been used to verify your identify, Equifax destroys all hard copies of it.

You may also request your credit file by e-mail. In this case, the identification documents noted above must be attached to the e-mail in order for Equifax to be able process the request.

Please never send originals of your documents, and make sure that all copies of your identification are legible. Equifax will send you a copy of your file by regular mail.

In addition, and for a fee, the Equifax website located at https://www.econsumer.equifax.ca/ca/main?lang=en provides Canadian consumers online, real-time access to their credit files. Consumers provide personal information during the order process for their credit file in order that Equifax can verify their identity and immediately deliver their credit report.

Consumers have the ability at any time to go to "My Equifax" on the Equifax Consumer Services Canada web page (www.equifax.ca) to review and change their password, email address, and password hint. Other Personal Information, such as name, postal address, date of birth and social insurance number (optional), are collected and stored when a consumer orders an Equifax product online. This data is maintained solely for billing, customer support services, and to facilitate delivery to the consumer of notices of new services or enhancements.Scope
Equifax Canada Privacy Policy at a Glance This statement applies to consumer credit information collected, used and disclosed by Equifax Canada Inc.

Personal Information
We collect consumer credit information, as it is defined by applicable law, which may include: name, date of birth, marital status, social insurance number, current and previous places of employment, estimated income, paying habits, outstanding debt obligations and cost of living obligations. Consumer credit information does NOT include information about: medical history, the name of a spouse, partner or dependent, race, colour, creed or religion, or commercial enterprises. Consumer credit information is collected from credit grantors, public records, collection agencies, and the consumer.

How to Contact Us
If you have a specific question or concern about your credit file, please contact:
Consumer Relations
Equifax Canada Inc.
Box 190 Jean Talon Station
Montreal, QC H1S 2Z2
Tel: 514 493 2314 or 1 800 465 7166

If you have a general question about Equifax's commitment to personal privacy, please contact:
Chief Privacy Officer
Equifax Canada Inc. 
5650 Yonge St., 13th Floor 
Toronto, ON M2M 4G3
chief.privacy.officer@equifax.com

For information about The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, please follow this link: