How long collections stay on your credit report in Canada
Quick summary
Equifax says a collection account comes off 6 years after the first missed payment, even if you pay it. TransUnion has its own rules, so check your report. This is a different clock from the deadline to sue. Next step: get your free credit report.
Checked November 2, 2026. Main source: Equifax Canada, How long does information stay on your credit report. Checked November 2, 2026.. See all 4 sources.
Key facts
- Equifax
- A collection account comes off 6 years after the first missed payment, even if you pay it
- Source: Equifax Canada, how long information stays, read Nov 2, 2026
- TransUnion
- Has its own rules, so check your report
- Source: This page, read Nov 2, 2026
- Deadline to sue
- A different clock from how long it shows on your report
- Source: This page, read Nov 2, 2026
What Equifax says
Equifax says a collection or charged-off account is removed 6 years from the date of the first missed payment. That is usually the date before it went to collection.
Paying the collection does not shorten the 6 years. Equifax says it stays on your report if you pay it, but it may affect your score less.
Source: Equifax Canada, How long does information stay on your credit report. Checked November 2, 2026.
A worked example
This example is our own arithmetic. If you first miss a payment in January 2026, and Equifax's rule applies, the collection would come off in January 2032.
If the account goes to a collection agency in 2027, that does not start a new 6 years under the Equifax wording. If you pay in 2029, it still stays until 2032.
Other times on a credit report
| Item | How long (Financial Consumer Agency of Canada) |
|---|---|
| Late or unpaid credit cards and loans | Up to 6 years |
| Judgments | 6 years in most provinces. TransUnion keeps them 7 years in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Quebec, and 10 years in Prince Edward Island |
| Lender inquiries | 3 years on Equifax, 6 years on TransUnion |
| Consumer proposal | 3 years after you finish, or 6 years after you sign, whichever comes first |
| Bankruptcy | 6 years after discharge. 7 years on TransUnion in some provinces. 14 years for more than one |
The agency says times vary by bureau and sometimes by province, and it does not list collections separately. Source: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, How long information stays on your credit report. Checked November 2, 2026.
What about TransUnion?
We could not read a TransUnion page that states the time for collections, so we do not give a number for it. Ask TransUnion for your free credit report and read the dates there.
Two different clocks
The credit report clock and the deadline for a lender to sue are separate. In Manitoba, the basic deadline to start a court case is 2 years from when the claim is discovered. Your credit report can show the collection for much longer.
In Manitoba, signing a written acknowledgement of a debt, or making a part payment, can restart the lawsuit clock. It does not change the credit report dates. Read our Manitoba article before you pay or sign anything on an old debt.
If the dates look wrong
Check the date of first missed payment on each bureau's report. If a collection shows a wrong date or is not yours, you can dispute it with the bureau.
Questions people ask
How long do collections stay on your credit report in Canada?
Equifax says 6 years from the date of the first missed payment. TransUnion has its own rules, so read your report.
Does paying a collection remove it?
Equifax says no. A paid collection stays for the full 6 years, but it may hurt your score less.
Does a collection restart the 6 years when it is sold?
Under Equifax's wording, the 6 years run from the first missed payment, so a transfer to an agency does not start a new 6 years.
Is the credit report time the same as the deadline to be sued?
No. They are separate clocks. In Manitoba, the basic deadline to start a court case is 2 years from discovery.
Can I dispute a collection on my credit report?
Yes, if it is wrong or not yours. Contact the bureau and use our dispute letter templates.