Credit report and debt collection rights in Ontario
Your rights in Ontario: how long items stay on your credit report, what collectors can't do, limitation periods and where to complain.
The laws that apply
Credit reporting in Ontario is governed mainly by the Consumer Reporting Act, together with federal privacy law (PIPEDA). Debt collectors must follow the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act.
Your right to an accurate report
You can get your Equifax and TransUnion reports free and dispute anything inaccurate, incomplete or outdated. The bureau must investigate and correct or remove information it cannot verify. Keep written copies of every dispute.
How long items stay
Most negative items, including collections, are reported for about 6 years from the date of last activity. Bankruptcies and consumer proposals have their own rules, depending on the bureau and whether it is a first bankruptcy. Use our reporting-date calculator to estimate yours.
Limitation period for lawsuits
In Ontario the general limitation period is 2 years for most consumer debts (Limitations Act, 2002). After it passes, a collector can usually still ask you to pay but generally can't win a lawsuit. A payment or written acknowledgment can sometimes restart the clock.
Where to complain
Complaints about a collector or a credit bureau can go to Ontario's Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (Consumer Protection Ontario). Complaints about a bank can go to the bank's own complaints office, then to the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) or the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.
General information only, not legal advice. Laws change; check the current rules for your situation.