How to calculate credit score?

[fosterj]

Does anyone know how they calculate a credit score?

Unfortunately, I live in one of the few places where there is no way to find out your own credit score. So I'm wondering if there is anyway I can figure it out by looking at my credit report.

I know I don't really need to worry about it, just good money management should increase it over time. But out of curiosity I would like to figure it out, so I could find out in a years time if I've helped increase my score.

I'm not sure why but for some reason, "to help protect us" our province is the only one in Canada that doesn't allow online access to our credit report through Equifax or Transunion. The only way to view my credit report is by snail mailing the required info away to Equifax and Transunion and them mailing back my credit report.

That's fine except, with that option they don't provide me with a credit score, just the credit report.

[MiikeB]

To my knowledge there is no way to calculate it from a report. You do seem to have internet access though, so go find one of the credit monitoring sites that offer a free trial, then sign up, look at it and cancel. Two things, 1) make sure you get the cancellation in an email or something, dont just take there word over the phone, and 2) be prepared for a million sales pitches while canceling.

[fosterj]

Can't signup online.. they all state on the signup forms that it's not available for where I live:

Equifax website: "* Nova Scotia residents: At this time, we do not accept orders from residents of Nova Scotia."

They all state that. even our Government information websites about checking your credit states Nova Scotia residents can not do it online, we have to mail it in instead, and they do not provide credit scores with mailed out reports.

[skydivingchic]

I don't know if credit scores for Canadians are calculated differently than for US citizens, but here is a link to a FICO score estimating tool.

I have a CC through Washington Mutual that shows me my credit score each month. You might look into that to see if it is available to Canadians.