Disputes and Fraud

Account takeover is a situation where another person gains control of an existing credit account without the consumer's permission.

A bureau investigation is the review process a credit bureau uses after a consumer challenges reported file information.

A chargeback is the reversal process used when a card transaction is challenged and the issuer takes the dispute back through the payment system.

A correction request is a focused request to review and fix specific credit-file information that appears wrong or incomplete.

A dispute is a request to review and correct credit-file information that appears inaccurate or incomplete.

Terms that explain Canadian credit-report disputes, correction requests, and fraud-related file problems.

A fraud alert is a warning placed on a credit file to encourage extra identity verification before new credit is granted.

Identity theft is the unauthorized use of a person's personal information to obtain credit or commit other fraud.

Identity verification is the process of confirming that the person requesting or using credit is who they claim to be.

An investigation result is the response a consumer receives after a bureau or reporting party reviews a disputed file item.

A mixed credit file is a bureau file that contains information that belongs partly to another person.

Supporting documents for a dispute are the records that help explain why a reported credit-file item should be reviewed or corrected.

An unauthorized account is a reported credit account that the consumer did not open or agree to.

An unauthorized charge is a card transaction the consumer did not approve or make.

An unauthorized inquiry is a credit-file check that the consumer does not recognize or did not permit.