You just called them? They close at 5PM. Whatever. That's enough. You're so contrary, you'll probably charter a plane to fly down there tomorrow morning, but that's all I've got time for right now, OK.

Ray

I just called Equifax right now and they told it was 3 years, stating that TransUnion is a different bureau with different procedures. Equifax has not changed there policy, and with the staff "opinion" on what it should be, really hasn't influenced them to change.

I do know that with TransUnion i've had inquires removed after I had requested them to do so (the ones older then 3 years). The same goes with Equifax.

On both CRA's there is no inquiry on my record that is older then 3 years.

In conclusion, I would say TransUnion does have a policy stated, but then since it's not written in stone, they can give out consumer requests. I dont know why they would play a double sword.

There ya go.

Ray

I did many times including today and there's half a dozen people there and at Equifax who think it's supposed to be 6 years.

The 3 years mentioned in section 12.1 (c) of the Ontario Act refers to the minimum period of time that they have to notify the consumer of inquiries done on him. In practice, they extend this to at least 6 years. In fact, on my Equifax file, they had inquiries that were up to 14 years old, but all they would remove were the ones which were older than 6 years.

Ray

67. How long does TransUnion keep my information on file?
Answer

http://www.tuc.ca/FAQen/viewdbAnswer.asp?ID=67

TransUnion will maintain a record of positive credit information (i.e. accounts that were paid and have no negative history) for a period of twenty (20) years. This retention period benefits most consumers by recognizing their previous involvement with the credit granting industry, even when the consumer has limited or no current credit history.
INQUIRIES:

An inquiry by a business purchasing a service from TransUnion will be automatically removed from your file after six (6) years. However, account review inquiries will only report for one (1) year. The system will maintain a minimum of six (6) credit inquiries on your file.
ACCOUNTS WITH ADVERSE CREDIT HISTORY:

These accounts will automatically be removed from your file six (6) years after the date you defaulted on the account.
DEBTS SATISFIED THROUGH AN ORDERLY PAYMENT OF DEBT OR CREDIT COUNSELING PROGRAM:

All debts reported as included in the debt repayment program will be removed from your file two (2) years from the date the program was satisfied.
CONSUMER PROPOSAL:

The consumer proposal and all accounts reported as satisfied through the proposal will be removed from your file three (3) years from the date you satisfied the proposal.
BANKRUPTCY:

TransUnion maintains this information on your file for the maximum length of time permitted by provincial credit reporting legislation. When a bankruptcy is removed from your file, all accounts reported as included in that bankruptcy will also be removed from your file. For a single bankruptcy, TransUnion maintains this information as follows:

* BC, YK, NWT, NU, AB, SK, MB, NS- six (6) years from the date of discharge
* ON, PQ, NB, PEI & NL- seven (7) years from the date of discharge If the consumer declares bankruptcy on more than one occasion, each bankruptcy will report on file for fourteen (14) years from the date of discharge of each bankruptcy

JUDGEMENTS:

TransUnion maintains this information on your file for the maximum length of time permitted by provincial credit reporting legislation TransUnion maintains this information as follows:

* BC, YK, NWT, NU, AB, SK, MB, NS- six (6) years from the date of judgement
* ON, PQ, NB, & NL- seven (7) years from the date of judgement
* PEI- ten (10) years from the date of judgement

COLLECTIONS:

These accounts will automatically be removed from your file six (6) years after the date you defaulted on the account with the original creditor.

Last Updated: 4/10/2007

http://www.tuc.ca/TUCorp/stuff/sitemaptu.htm

TransUnion Canada FAQs page.
http://www.tuc.ca/FAQen/viewdb.asp

NOTE Item 67 the very last item.

On This page TransUnion Canada answers the following questions:

1. How does the dispute process work?
   
2. How do I change my name or address on my report?
   
3. How do I add a Consumer Statement to my credit report?
   
4. How do I receive a free copy of my TransUnion Personal Credit report?
   
5. How do I add a Fraud Alert to my credit report?
   
6. How do I remove or update my Fraud Statement?
   
7. How do I know if I?m a victim of fraud?
   
8. How do I restore my credit after I?ve been a victim of fraud?
   
9. How long does a fraud alert stay on my credit file?
   
10. What should I do if I?m a possible victim of credit fraud?
    
11. How can I update my contact information in my fraud alert?
    
12. How can I contact your Fraud Department?
    
13. Who else can I contact while I resolve my fraud situation?
    
14. If I add the fraud statement for five years, will I still be able to get credit?
    
15. What are some tips for avoiding fraud?
    
16. Why can?t I dispute my credit score?
    
17. What is a Credit Score?
    
18. Once my credit report is updated, how long before my score is updated?
    
19. Does every inquiry affect my score?
    
20. How is the TransUnion Personal Score Calculated?
    
21. I corrected things on my credit report and my score went down. Can you explain
    
22. What is a good score to get?
    
23. Will I be penalized for shopping around for the best interest rate?
    
24. Do credit lenders use the TransUnion Credit Score?
    
25. Why don?t I have a Personal Credit Score?
    
26. How can the TransUnion Personal Credit Score help me?
    
27. Can I use the TransUnion Personal Credit Score to apply for credit?
    
28. What is a factor description?
    
29. Why do lenders use credit scores?
    
30. Is there just one type of score?
    
31. What are the advantages of credit scores?
    
32. How do inquiries affect my score?
    
33. How can I identify who some of the creditors are on my report so that I may contact them to cancel accounts?
    
34. If I pay accounts, will they come off my credit report?
    
35. Why are some of my accounts showing as joint, even after a divorce?
    
36. What is in my credit report?
    
37. I received the message ?We cannot deliver your TransUnion Personal Credit Report online because we were unable to confirm your identity.? What can I do to correct the problem and get a copy of my credit report?
    
38. Is the TransUnion Personal Credit Report & Score available outside of Canada?
    
39. Why can?t I input my name to order my credit report?
    
40. What required information do you use to confirm my identity online?
    
41. What is SSL?
    
42. If I have changed addresses in the last two years, do I need to include the previous address to continue my enrollment process?
    
43. I was trying to pay for the credit report and received a message that TransUnion is unable to process my card at this time. Why can?t TransUnion process my credit card?
    
44. I just received a question regarding an account that was currently changed but this new information is not showing in the choices listed. What should I select?
    
45. How can I save an electronic copy of the credit report I ordered?
    
46. What are cookies and how are they used on your site?
    
47. Can I pay for my TransUnion Credit Report and Score using Electronic Funds Transfer?
    
48. Can I purchase my report without accepting the terms and conditions?
    
49. Your site keeps saying that I do not have 128-bit encryption but I know I do. How do I continue to use your website if it doesn?t recognize the 128-bit encryption I have on my PC?
    
50. Can I use a specialty or retail credit card to purchase my TransUnion Credit Report and Score?
    
51. Why is my TransUnion Credit Report unreadable in my Netscape Browser?
    
52. What does 128-bit encryption mean and how to I set it up on my machine?
    
53. Why am I unable to return to the page I just left?
    
54. How do I enter a Rural Route Address?
    
55. What is an inquiry?
    
56. What are account review inquiries?
    
57. Can you tell me what is on my report over the telephone?
    
58. Who can access my credit report?
    
59. How do I build a good credit history?
    
60. Where do you get the personal information that is on my credit report?
    
61. How often should I check my credit report?
    
62. What do lenders look at when deciding whether or not to approve a loan or credit card?
    
63. What is a consumer-reporting agency or credit bureau and what does it do?
    
64. What is Credit?
    
65. What is a Credit Report?
    
66. After my identity was confirmed, I entered my name, address, and credit card info. The next page that came up said "We do not recognize the information you have submitted. Please check the information and try again." and when I try again I get this: "The TransUnion system is temporarily unavailable. Please try your request later".
    
67. How long does TransUnion keep my information on file?
    

Gentlemen... peace out !!

http://www.equifax.com/EFX_Canada/consumer_information_centre/faqs_e.html#ques12

How long does Equifax keep information in my credit file?

CREDIT INQUIRIES TO THE FILE: An Inquiry made by a Creditor will automatically purge three (3) years from the date of the inquiry. The system will keep a minimum of five (5) inquiries.

CREDIT HISTORY AND BANKING INFORMATION: A credit transaction will automatically purge from the system six (6) years from the date of last activity.
All banking information (checking or saving account) will automatically purge from the system six (6) years from the date of registration.

VOLUNTARY DEPOSIT - ORDERLY PAYMENT OF DEBTS, CREDIT COUNSELING: When voluntary deposit ? OPD ? credit counseling is paid, it will automatically purge from the system three (3) years from the date paid.

REGISTERED CONSUMER PROPOSAL: When a registered consumer proposal is paid, it will automatically purge three (3) years from the date paid.

BANKRUPTCY: A bankruptcy automatically purges six (6) years from the date of discharge in the case of a single bankruptcy. If the consumer declares several bankruptcies, the system will keep each bankruptcy for fourteen (14) years from the date of each discharge. All accounts included in a bankruptcy remain on file indicating ?included in bankruptcy? and will purge six (6) years from the date of last activity.

JUDGMENTS, SEIZURE OF MOVABLE/IMMOVABLE, GARNISHMENT OF WAGES: The above will automatically purge from the system six (6) years from the date filed.

COLLECTION ACCOUNTS: A collection account under public records will automatically purge from the system six (6) years from the date of last activity.

SECURED LOANS: A secured loan will automatically purge from the system six (6) years from the date filed.

(Exception: P.E.I. Public Records: seven (7) to ten (10) years.)

For the last time Raymond, call up Equifax at 1-800-865-3908 and their policy is 3 years, where has TransUnion has a different procedure.

For the last time, call the 800 TransUnion number I listed. The Consumer Reporting Act of Ont. may say 7 years for everything except second bankruptcies, but 6 years is their policy for negative items and hard inquiries and 7 years for first bankruptcies. They could make it 6 months if they wanted to;
the Act just specifies statutory maximums.

Ray

I was just speaking on Ontario's credit reporting. But it seems to have changed now as it has become seven years, when previously it was six.