Does Credit Bureau have our SIN?

Dec 14th, 2020 11:59 pm

#1

Kyle12345 [OP]: Member; Sep 15, 2018; 331 posts; 59 upvotes

Dec 14th, 2020 11:59 pm

Hi.

I am looking to get a free credit report from Equifax and TransUnion.

It looks like if we apply through mail we don’t have to provide our SIN whereas we have to provide our SIN if we are applying through phone or online. But with mail, I’ll have to send my drivers license copy.

My question is if Equifax and TransUnion already have our SIN or are they just going to be collecting and adding it to our file once we provide it?

Searches online seem to suggest they don’t have our SIN until we provide it to them but not too sure. Anyone experts in this field?

Thanks.

Last edited by Kyle12345 on Dec 15th, 2020 12:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Dec 15th, 2020 12:02 am

#2

CanadianSpruce: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2017; 1232 posts; 1035 upvotes; Calgary

Dec 15th, 2020 12:02 am

If you’ve ever provided your SIN to a bank/credit card company or anyone else who can search or report info to the credit bureau, they already have it on file.

+2

Dec 15th, 2020 12:22 am

#3

Kyle12345 [OP]: Member; Sep 15, 2018; 331 posts; 59 upvotes

Dec 15th, 2020 12:22 am

CanadianSpruce wrote: ↑ If you’ve ever provided your SIN to a bank/credit card company or anyone else who can search or report info to the credit bureau, they already have it on file.

The only places I can remember of giving it to is my employer and bank. Is it required to provide it to banks if we’re opening an account like a stocking trading account?

Dec 15th, 2020 12:23 am

#4

mikeymike1: Deal Fanatic; Apr 16, 2007; 7979 posts; 3270 upvotes; Financial District B…

Dec 15th, 2020 12:23 am

As stated by Spruce above, if you have ever applied for a credit product or submitted disclosure for anything where a credit check is required including employment then both credit bureau entities will have your SIN on file as an identifier.
Your SIN can be submitted to the credit bureaus via your employers(via ERB checks) even if you have never supplied your SIN on any credit application.

----------------------------Licensed Credit Bureau member, S1, FI Automotive, CCP forums most banned = x 13 and counting, guess who that is?... stomped to the curb once again

+1

Dec 15th, 2020 12:32 am

#5

Kyle12345 [OP]: Member; Sep 15, 2018; 331 posts; 59 upvotes

Dec 15th, 2020 12:32 am

mikeymike1 wrote: ↑ As stated by Spruce above, if you have ever applied for a credit product or submitted disclosure for anything where a credit check is required including employment then both credit bureau entities will have your SIN on file as an identifier.
Your SIN can be submitted to the credit bureaus via your employers(via ERB checks) even if you have never supplied your SIN on any credit application.

ERB checks?

Dec 15th, 2020 1:35 am

#6

CanadianSpruce: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2017; 1232 posts; 1035 upvotes; Calgary

Dec 15th, 2020 1:35 am

Kyle12345 wrote: ↑ The only places I can remember of giving it to is my employer and bank. Is it required to provide it to banks if we’re opening an account like a stocking trading account?

You’d have to provide your SIN when opening a stock trading account for tax purposes. When the the banks does the monthly soft credit search on your report each month they will have reported it.

Most employers who do criminal background checks use Equifax or TU for verify your identity for the check. They’ll have got your sin that way as well.

Dec 15th, 2020 1:38 am

#7

Kyle12345 [OP]: Member; Sep 15, 2018; 331 posts; 59 upvotes

Dec 15th, 2020 1:38 am

CanadianSpruce wrote: ↑ You’d have to provide your SIN when opening a stock trading account for tax purposes. When the the banks does the monthly soft credit search on your report each month they will have reported it.

Most employers who do criminal background checks use Equifax or TU for verify your identity for the check. They’ll have got your sin that way as well.

Banks do monthly soft credit checks?! For what?

Dec 15th, 2020 1:42 am

#8

CanadianSpruce: Deal Addict; Feb 17, 2017; 1232 posts; 1035 upvotes; Calgary

Dec 15th, 2020 1:42 am

Kyle12345 wrote: ↑ Banks do monthly soft credit checks?! For what?

So they can send targeted pre-approvals and to monitor late payments/defaults to reduce their own losses.

+1

Dec 15th, 2020 2:27 am

#9

mikeymike1: Deal Fanatic; Apr 16, 2007; 7979 posts; 3270 upvotes; Financial District B…

Dec 15th, 2020 2:27 am

Kyle12345 wrote: ↑ ERB checks?

oops, ERC

ERC = Enhanced Reliability Check - Security clearance

----------------------------Licensed Credit Bureau member, S1, FI Automotive, CCP forums most banned = x 13 and counting, guess who that is?... stomped to the curb once again

Dec 15th, 2020 10:34 am

#10

robsaw: Deal Addict; May 16, 2017; 1594 posts; 2014 upvotes

Dec 15th, 2020 10:34 am

mikeymike1 wrote: ↑ oops, ERC

ERC = Enhanced Reliability Check - Security clearance

A credit check is part of ERC, so, yes, very likely submission included the associated SIN to credit bureaus.

Dec 15th, 2020 12:27 pm

#11

jeff1970: Deal Addict; Mar 9, 2012; 3498 posts; 2135 upvotes; Kitchener

Dec 15th, 2020 12:27 pm

Kyle12345 wrote: ↑ The only places I can remember of giving it to is my employer and bank. Is it required to provide it to banks if we’re opening an account like a stocking trading account?

Yes

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-soc ... ion-2.html

Why can't we all just get along?

Dec 15th, 2020 12:40 pm

#12

zeddy: Deal Addict; Jun 12, 2008; 1172 posts; 644 upvotes; Ripley

Dec 15th, 2020 12:40 pm

Have you looked to see if your bank offers credit reports for free? I can access mine by logging into my online banking account. Transunion I think.

Dec 17th, 2020 2:33 am

#13

Kyle12345 [OP]: Member; Sep 15, 2018; 331 posts; 59 upvotes

Dec 17th, 2020 2:33 am

zeddy wrote: ↑ Have you looked to see if your bank offers credit reports for free? I can access mine by logging into my online banking account. Transunion I think.

I think only the score, not the report. How often can we request for a free credit report?

Dec 17th, 2020 3:20 am

#14

chriskanaan: Member; Jan 31, 2008; 474 posts; 163 upvotes; Summerstown, ON

Dec 17th, 2020 3:20 am

The credit bureau's do not require your SIN for obtaining your credit report online or by mail, although it may reduce accuracy if you do not provide it.

I believe they use some type of algo. They have such a massive database with so many similiar names and birthdates.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been. "

Dec 17th, 2020 5:38 am

#15

financedude: Newbie; Dec 10, 2018; 34 posts; 42 upvotes

Dec 17th, 2020 5:38 am

Dont order or pay for any report

www.creditkarma.ca has TransUnion reporting for free. This includes the full report and score with free weekly updates.

www.borrowell.com has Equifax reporting for free. This includes the full report and score with free monthly reporting.

Dec 19th, 2020 10:08 am

#16

User455957: Deal Addict; Nov 8, 2017; 1527 posts; 850 upvotes

Dec 19th, 2020 10:08 am

I get credit reports monthly and weekly

INTERNET can further guide you