In this episode of Me, Myself, and AI, we dive deep into the mysterious world of credit—how it works, who controls it, and why it feels like an uphill battle, especially for people who weren’t taught the system early on. Casey shares her personal journey with credit—from her first university credit card to the snowball effect of debt—and unpacks how credit scores are calculated, why rent-reporting programs can be both helpful and risky, and the real deal behind consumer proposals. Plus, we look at how other countries handle credit and ask the big question: is there a fairer way? Whether you’re rebuilding your credit, starting from scratch, or just curious about how this system runs your life, this episode is for you.

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Sources:

• Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO): https://www.fico.com

• VantageScore Solutions: https://www.vantagescore.com

• Equifax Canada: https://www.consumer.equifax.ca

• TransUnion Canada: https://www.transunion.ca

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): https://www.consumerfinance.gov

• Ontario Consumer Reporting Act: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c33

• National Consumer Law Center, “Past Imperfect: How Credit Scores and Other Analytics ‘Bake In’ Past Discrimination and Perpetuate Bias,” 2022

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC): https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

• Experian Boost: https://www.experian.com/consumer-products/boost

• RentTrack: https://www.renttrack.com

• Equifax Rent Advantage: https://www.consumer.equifax.ca/personal/products/rent-advantage/

• Government of Canada—Insolvency Statistics and Consumer Proposals: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/bsf-osb.nsf/eng/home

• OECD Reports on International Credit Reporting Systems (2023)

• World Bank: “Credit Reporting Knowledge Guide” (2020)