TORONTO, July 2, 2026 – Ontario introduced a credit file freeze system on July 1. Residents can now ask credit reporting agencies to restrict access to their credit information at no cost, reducing the risk that someone may use stolen personal information to apply for a credit card or loan in their name. However, once a credit file is frozen, residents may also be unable to complete their own applications for a mortgage, car loan or new credit card until the freeze is lifted.
Residents do not need to wait until identity theft has already occurred before requesting a freeze. People who have lost identification documents, whose personal information has been exposed, or who do not expect to apply for new credit in the near future can use this option. Ontario requires that placing, temporarily suspending or fully removing a credit freeze be free of charge.
Residents must contact Equifax and TransUnion separately. Submitting a request to one agency will not automatically freeze the credit file held by the other. After completing both requests, residents should keep confirmation numbers, emails and processing dates so they can locate the information when they need to remove or suspend the freeze later.
Processing times vary depending on how the request is submitted. Online applications should generally be completed within two business days, telephone requests may take up to five business days, and mailed applications may take up to 15 business days. Temporary suspensions and removals may also require processing time, so people preparing to apply for credit should not wait until the day they sign an agreement.
A credit freeze mainly restricts new credit inquiries and the disclosure of credit information. It does not prevent someone from misusing an existing bank card or credit card, and it does not automatically remove incorrect accounts from a credit report. Anyone who notices an unfamiliar transaction should contact the bank immediately. If an unknown account appears on a credit report, the consumer must file a separate dispute with the credit reporting agency.
Residents may also add an explanatory statement of up to 200 words to their credit file to describe identity theft, a disputed account or another special circumstance. The statement will not automatically remove an account and does not require a lender to accept the consumer’s explanation.
People who have frozen their credit files should ask which credit reporting agency will be checked before applying for a car loan, mortgage, cellphone financing or certain rental arrangements. They can then decide whether to temporarily suspend the freeze with one agency or both. Removing the freeze too late may delay approval or cause an existing offer to expire.
People whose personal information has been exposed should continue monitoring their bank accounts and credit reports even after placing a freeze. A credit freeze can reduce some risks involving new credit, but it does not replace reporting problems to a bank, changing passwords or dealing with suspicious transactions that have already occurred.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
