For Consumers: Three Pillars of Protection

1. The Equifax Credit Lock

Take control of your identity with the new Credit Lock. This preventative tool acts as a digital deadbolt for access to your credit report for the purposes of requests for new credit.

• Help Prevent Identity Theft: Proactively block lenders from accessing your credit report for new credit applications.
• Instant Control: Place, remove, or suspend your Credit Lock immediately through myEquifax, you will also be able to place a Credit Lock by phone and by a mail-in request to Equifax.

2. Monthly Free Access

Stay on top of your credit health with more frequent updates.

• Monthly Free Scores: You now have the right to receive your free electronic credit report and score up to once per month.
• Transparency: The scores you see will use methodologies consistent with those used by your lenders and help you navigate your credit journey with more confidence.

3. Your Voice, Amplified

• Explanatory Statements: Add a custom statement to your report to provide context on specific financial events.

For Businesses: Technical Implementation Hub

Equifax is harmonizing the Ontario rollout with our existing Quebec (Bill 53) infrastructure to ensure a seamless national experience for lenders.

1. Technical Specifications: Hit Code 7

If a consumer has a Credit Lock in place, Equifax will return Hit Code 7 (Report Unavailable).

Lender Action: Your systems must be configured to recognize Code 7 and halt the adjudication process until the consumer removes or suspends their Credit Lock.

2. Use Case Triage: Exempt vs. Non-Exempt

The Credit Lock applies primarily to new credit adjudication.

• Lock Applies: New loans, credit cards, mortgages, and long-term leases. May apply to renewal or increased capacity of existing accounts.
• Bypass (Exempt): Government screening, debt recovery, and account management for existing customers.
• Verification: Equifax uses your Member Number to automatically determine if a transaction is exempt.

Are you on a technical team?

Please refer to our Developer portal

Frequently asked questions

What does this mean for Equifax business customers?

Currently, Equifax returns a successful file, a “no-hit” code, or an error. Under Bill 142, if a consumer has a Credit Lock active and the request is for credit adjudication, Equifax will return a new designator: Value “7” (Credit Lock)

Is there a fee for a Credit Lock?

No. Placing, suspending, or removing a Credit Lock is a free service provided to all qualifying Ontario residents as part of our commitment to Bill 142.

What will the lock message look like?

The Credit Lock designator code “7” will be included in the header section of the response.

Current Designator Codes:
• 0 = No Credit File Requested
• 1 = Hit
• 2 = No Hit
• 7 = Report unavailable - consumer has placed a Credit Lock on their file

What steps are required of Equifax customers?

To remain compliant, lenders must:

1. Adapt applications to recognize and handle Value “7”.
2. Consult legal teams to determine internal processes when a “Lock” message is received.
3. Important: Equifax strongly recommends customers do not “waterfall” to other agencies if a lock is detected, as this bypasses the consumer’s intent to secure their file.

Under what conditions will a Credit Lock be bypassed?

Bill 142 allows for specific exemptions where data is still returned. Examples include:

• Government Agencies: Background checks, social service eligibility, or investigations.
• Financial Institutions: Opening a non-credit bank account or managing an existing portfolio. In these cases, Equifax uses the Member Number to automatically identify the exempt status and process the request normally.

Does this impact data submission or reporting?

No. The Act has no impact on how institutions report trade data. Information will continue to be updated on the consumer's file regardless of its lock status.

Will a lock on a consumer’s Equifax credit report also put a lock on their TransUnion report?

No. Each credit reporting agency operates independently. If a consumer wishes to secure their credit identity across the Canadian market, they must place a Credit Lock with both Equifax and TransUnion separately. Equifax does not have a direct channel to inform other bureaus of a consumer's decision to lock their report. We recommend consumers manage their security settings on both platforms for maximum protection.

Does a Credit Lock affect a consumer’s credit score?

There is no impact to credit score calculations.

Legend of Terms

• Credit Lock: A security feature that allows consumers to prevent lenders from accessing their credit report for new credit applications.This is sometimes called a “freeze.”

• Hit Code 7: The specific technical designator code returned by Equifax indicating a file is unavailable due to a Credit Lock.

• Exempt Use Case: Specific legal exceptions (e.g., government checks, existing account management) where a file is delivered despite a lock being in place.

• Non-Exempt Use Case: Standard credit adjudication (e.g., new loans or leases) where a Credit Lock will block the delivery of data.

• myEquifax: The consumer-facing portal where Ontario residents can manage their Credit Lock status.

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice and should not be used, or interpreted, as legal advice. The information is provided as is without any representation, warranty or guarantee of any kind, whether express or implied. Equifax will not under any circumstances be liable to you or to any other person for any loss or damage arising from, connected with, or relating to the use of this presentation by you or any other person. Readers should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice relating to complying with legislative requirements

Bill 142 Implementation Hub.

Frequently asked questions