Now that Ontario Regulation 168/25 is in effect, Ontario residents can place a security freeze, also called a credit freeze or credit lock, on their credit bureau reports. This added protection can help reduce the risk of identity thieves using someone’s credit information to open new accounts.
However, a credit freeze also affects legitimate applications for new credit.
What Is a Credit Freeze?
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report for certain purposes. When the freeze is active, lenders may be unable to review the information they need to assess a new application.
Ontario residents gained the right to lock and unlock their credit reports beginning July 1, 2026.
A credit freeze does not erase information from your report or prevent you from using existing accounts. It simply limits access to your credit file in circumstances covered by Ontario’s consumer reporting legislation.
How Can It Affect a Luminus Credit Card Application?
When you apply for a Luminus Financial credit card through Collabria, the application process includes a review of your credit report. If a security freeze is active and Collabria cannot access that report, your application cannot be processed and may be declined.
This also applies when requesting a credit limit increase on an existing Collabria credit card.
What Should You Do Before Applying?
Before submitting a new credit card application or requesting a credit limit increase, check whether you have placed a freeze on your credit report.
If a freeze is active, you will need to contact the applicable credit bureau and request that it be suspended or removed before applying. A freeze placed through one credit bureau generally needs to be managed directly through that bureau.
Allow enough time for the change to take effect before submitting your application. Processing times may vary depending on how the request is made. Ontario’s regulation establishes different timelines for electronic, telephone and mail requests.
Once your credit report is accessible, you can proceed with your application. You may choose to reactivate the freeze afterward.
Was Your Application Declined?
It is easy to forget that a credit freeze is still active, especially if you placed it as a precaution or in response to suspected fraud.
If your credit card application or limit increase request was unexpectedly declined, an active freeze may be the reason. Contact the credit bureau managing your report to confirm its status and learn how to temporarily lift it.
Questions about applying for a Luminus Financial Collabria credit card? Contact our team before submitting your application. We are here to help you understand the process and avoid preventable delays.
