Equifax is the largest credit-reporting agency in Canada and receives over 40 million requests for file information each year. Federal and provincial laws are very specific as to who can review your credit file and for what purpose. An individual or company may only obtain a copy of your credit file with your consent or after having told you that they will be reviewing your file. A company must have a legitimate business reason and a permissible purpose, as stated in government regulations, to obtain your credit file. When you apply for a loan or credit card, you are usually asked to complete and sign an application form. An application normally includes written consent that gives permission to the credit grantor to check your credit file when you first apply and for as long as the account is open. In addition to your name, an application often asks for your date of birth, your address and a previous address if you've recently moved — all of which helps to locate your credit file at a credit reporting agency. Each time a member of the credit bureau requests your file, the request is noted on your file as an 'inquiry.' You can therefore see a complete record of who has requested your credit file, and when. A credit reporting agency may only provide a copy of your file when the request relates to the extension of credit, collection of a debt, housing rental, application for employment or for insurance purposes. Since your credit file contains only factual information, it is important to remember that each of the companies requesting your credit file will interpret those facts in its own way to arrive at a decision. Of course, you also have the right to obtain a copy of your credit report.