Who to call in New Brunswick

New Brunswick has no credit freeze

Only Quebec and Ontario residents can freeze a credit file. Here, you can place a fraud alert instead. It asks a lender to check it is you before giving credit.

Call Equifax on 1-800-465-7166 and TransUnion on 1-800-663-9980. Each places its own alert, and neither tells the other.

a credit freeze a block that stops a credit bureau sharing your file with a new lender

Ontario and Quebec law let you ask Equifax and TransUnion not to give your file to a lender who would open new credit. Neither bureau charges for it, and each has to be asked separately. Equifax calls it Credit Lock. Everywhere else, the option is a fraud alert instead.

a fraud alert a note on the credit file asking a lender to check who they are talking to

It asks; it does not stop anything on its own. A lender is meant to make contact and confirm identity before approving credit in your name. Each bureau keeps its own file, so one placed at one does nothing at the other. A bureau may charge for placing one.

The Financial and Consumer Services Commission

1-866-933-2222, toll free.

The Commission regulates securities, insurance, pensions and consumer matters, so one call covers both an investment and a consumer complaint.

Social Development

1-833-733-7835, which the province writes as 1-833-SDDSTel. A local Social Development office also works, at any hour.

Call to report suspected abuse or neglect of an adult. Social Development’s staff investigate.

Money on its own is not covered. The province says financial exploitation is not recognized as abuse in the Family Services Act. This office can step in only when the money came with abuse or neglect. Call the police about the money itself.

The Office of the Public Trustee

1-888-336-8383, toll free, or 506-444-3688. Fax 506-444-3500.

The office takes referrals in writing, not by telephone. The office is part of the New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission.