{"id":1989,"date":"2020-11-20T13:08:59","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T18:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cli-mu.qarea.org\/brokers\/?p=1989"},"modified":"2023-05-17T16:29:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T20:29:00","slug":"how-to-read-and-interpret-a-credit-bureau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.canadianlending.ca\/brokers\/how-to-read-and-interpret-a-credit-bureau\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Read and Interpret a Credit Bureau"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When it comes to evaluating the financial health of your clients, few documents matter more than the credit report. Although credit reports appear straightforward at first glance, there\u2019s a lot more that goes into the rating system than meets the eye.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

A credit bureau is a company that collects information regarding an individual\u2019s credit history and uses that information to tabulate whether they are a high-risk, moderate-risk, or low-risk borrower. The credit bureau\u2019s main task is to keep tabs on an individual\u2019s credit rating and to help lenders assess their clients\u2019 creditworthiness.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In Canada, there are two main gatekeepers of the credit-rating business: Equifax and TransUnion. These two credit bureaus pervade every major financial institution in the country. Whether an individual is applying for a credit card, car loan, or mortgage, lenders usually tap either Equifax or TransUnion to run the credit report.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to point out that lenders are not obliged to report account information to either of the credit bureaus. They do so voluntarily, which suggests they rely on the credit rating system to evaluate their clients. Ultimately, it is the lender who decides whether to lend money based on their own guidelines.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s Included in a Credit Report?\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

A credit report is not merely the collection of an individual\u2019s credit history; rather, it provides detailed information that allows lenders to form a judgement about a borrower\u2019s creditworthiness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A credit report includes the following information about a borrower:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n