How long collections stay on your credit report in Ontario
How long a collection account usually stays on an Ontario credit report, how the date is counted, and what to do if it's still there too long.
The usual timeline
In Ontario, most negative information, including collections, can generally be reported for about six years. The clock is usually counted from the date of last activity on the debt, not the date the collector bought it.
Use our reporting-date calculator for a rough estimate based on your dates.
Selling the debt doesn't restart the clock
When a debt is sold to a new collector, the original dates should stay the same. A collection showing a much later 'opened' date than the original default can be a sign of re-ageing, which you can dispute.
Paying vs time
Paying a collection updates its status to paid but does not, by itself, remove it early. Separately, paying or acknowledging an old debt can affect the legal limitation period for a lawsuit — get advice first.
If it's past its date
Dispute it in writing with the bureau, list the original default date, and attach any statement that proves it.
Want a lawyer to look at your situation?
General information only, not legal advice. Laws and bureau policies change.