Duplicate collections on a credit report in Canada

Are two entries necessarily a duplicate?

No. An original creditor and a collection company can both appear in an account’s history. Two listings alone do not establish that a debt should be deleted. Look for inaccurate ownership, balances, dates or repeated entries for the same obligation.

Compare these fields before disputing

Save both entries from the same dated report. Compare the creditor name, collector name, account ending, amount, opening date, last updated date and status. Note whether one account shows a transfer or closure.

Ask the original creditor and collector which account each entry represents and who owns the balance. Use statements, assignment notices and settlement letters to connect the entries to the same debt.

Build an evidence-based request

Set out the two entries side by side in your letter. Explain the particular inconsistency: for example, the same collector reports the same account twice, or an old owner still reports a current balance that it says was transferred.

Request investigation of the specific fields and an explanation of each entry. Attach the relevant pages and records, keeping a copy of the package and its submission confirmation.

Dispute on the report where the problem appears

Equifax and TransUnion keep separate files. If only one report contains the duplicate, start there and with the reporting company. If both contain it, submit separate disputes and track each reference number.

What a successful correction looks like

Check that the revised report resolves the inaccurate entry, balance or status. Do not judge the outcome only by a score movement, which may depend on other changes. If both entries remain, ask for the investigation explanation before deciding whether to escalate.

Official guidance

• FCAC: checking your credit report for errors and fraud

Prepare your dispute

• Document checklist
• Canadian dispute letter template
• Check whether an item may be disputed