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The Global Insight

How long can a debt collector pursue an old debt in Canada?

Author

John Johnson

Updated on March 08, 2026

According to the Federal Government of Canada, debt cannot be pursued after 6 years. Based on which province you live in, the statute of limitations will vary, typically ranging anywhere from 2 to 10 years.

Can a debt collector collect after statute of limitations?

New South Wales is the only territory where a debt is completely cancelled after the statute of limitations. This means that you can still make attempts to recover the debt, but you need to tread carefully. Once a debt is statute barred, all you can do is ask for payment.

What is the statute of limitations in Ontario on debt collections?

two years
The time limit for debt collection in Ontario In Ontario, the statute of limitations for standard debts, like bank loans and credit cards, is two years. After this time, a collection agency can no longer sue you or pursue legal action to collect on a past-due debt.

How long can a collection agency attempt to collect a debt?

How Long Can a Debt Collector Pursue an Old Debt? Each state has a law referred to as a statute of limitations that spells out the time period during which a creditor or collector may sue borrowers to collect debts. In most states, they run between four and six years after the last payment was made on the debt.

Why you should never pay a collection agency Canada?

As mentioned, there are reasons not to pay a collection agency. If you miss payments on your debts, the creditor will likely pass this information on to the major credit bureaus (TransUnion and Equifax in Canada). This will negatively affect your credit score.

Is there Statute of limitations on debt in Canada?

In Canada, the statutes of limitations – the laws that limit your ability to sue after an event – vary by province. In some provinces and territories it is up to six years after any of these: the last provable acknowledgment of the debt by the debtor. But in most jurisdictions, the limit is a mere two years.

Is there a statute of limitations on collections in Canada?

There are no more calls from “Don’t Answer”, your alias for those collections calls. Why? To put it simply, it’s because each province in Canada has its own statute of limitations on debt. That means that after a certain period of time, lenders you owe can no longer come after you in a court of law for the money.

How long can a collection agency collect on a debt in Canada?

The law states that if the unsecured debt is not collected and payments are not made within a certain time frame, creditors and collection agencies can’t take legal action against you. The Federal Government of Canada has a statute of limitations of 6 years where after that debt can’t be pursued.

Is there a statute of limitations on default in Canada?

However, this limitation will be reinstated where the debtor acknowledges the debt or makes a partial payment towards the debt. If the debt default occurred prior to January 1, 2004, the creditor will have 6 years to pursue the claim. However, if the default occurred after January 1, 2004 then the credit will just have the 2 year limit.