How long negative information stays on your credit report
UpdatedJuly 3, 2026· 5 min read· Équipe Prêtwise
In Canada, most negative information falls off your credit report after 6 to 7 years, depending on the type of item, the bureau (Equifax or TransUnion) and your province. Late payments and collection accounts generally stay for about 6 years, a first bankruptcy for 6 to 7 years after discharge, and a consumer proposal for about 3 years after it is paid in full. Once the timeline expires, the item is removed automatically — no action or fee required on your part.
The usual timelines at a glance
Here are the ranges Equifax and TransUnion generally apply. Treat them as typical guideposts, not guarantees: bureau policies and your province’s laws can shift the exact timelines.
| Item | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Late payment | About 6 years from the date of the missed payment |
| Collection account | About 6 years from the first missed payment |
| First bankruptcy | 6 to 7 years after discharge, depending on bureau and province |
| Multiple bankruptcies | Up to 14 years |
| Consumer proposal | About 3 years after it is paid in full |
| Credit inquiry (hard pull) | About 3 years, sometimes longer depending on bureau and province |
Late payments: about 6 years
A late payment reported by a lender stays on file for about 6 years from the date of the missed payment — not from the date you catch up. Bringing a past-due account current is still the best move: the account returns to good standing, and the late payment’s effect on your credit score fades as on-time payments stack up on top of it.
A single 30-day late payment weighs far less than a string of 60- or 90-day lates. Lenders look at your recent pattern as much as your full history.
Collection accounts: about 6 years
When an unpaid debt is handed to a collection agency, the account appears on your report and generally stays for about 6 years from the first missed payment with the original creditor. Paying the debt does not remove the entry, but the account is then marked as paid — a much better signal to a future lender than an outstanding balance.
Bankruptcy and consumer proposals
A first bankruptcy remains on file for 6 to 7 years after the discharge date. Equifax generally applies 6 years across the country; TransUnion keeps the information for 7 years in certain provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. With multiple bankruptcies, each one can stay for up to 14 years.
A consumer proposal — the legal arrangement under which you repay part of your debts — is removed about 3 years after it is paid in full (or, at the latest, about 6 years after it is signed, depending on the bureau). The faster you pay it off, the sooner it disappears. That is one reason many people first explore lighter options, such as debt consolidation, which leaves no legal record on your report.
Credit inquiries: about 3 years
Each “hard” credit inquiry (when a lender pulls your report for a loan or card application) is recorded for about 3 years at Equifax; TransUnion may keep it longer in some provinces. “Soft” checks — such as viewing your own report — are not visible to lenders and do not affect your score.
An inquiry’s effect on your score is small and fades within a few months, well before the entry disappears. Several applications made close together for the same type of loan are also often treated as a single rate-shopping search.
What happens when the information falls off?
Removal is automatic: when the timeline expires, the bureau drops the item without any action from you, and lenders who pull your report no longer see it at all. If an item stays on display beyond the period allowed in your province, you can dispute it with the bureau free of charge.
Good news in the meantime: a negative item’s impact shrinks steadily well before it is removed. Scoring models put more weight on recent behaviour — a year or two of on-time payments and moderate credit utilization already offsets much of an old misstep.
Next steps
An old late payment or a settled collection does not condemn you to poor terms forever. Check your Equifax and TransUnion reports, note the expected removal dates, and once your profile improves, shop around: comparing several lenders before applying for a personal loan shows you concretely what your cleaned-up file saves you.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I get negative information removed before the timeline expires?+
Only if it is inaccurate. Accurate information — a real late payment, a genuine collection account — stays on your report until the retention period ends, even if you pay off the debt. Paying does update the account status, which lenders view favourably. Be wary of companies promising to erase accurate items: it cannot be done.
Does paying a collection account remove it from my report?+
No. The account stays on your report until the retention period ends, generally around 6 years. It will, however, be marked as paid, which many lenders view far more favourably than an outstanding balance. Paying can also stop interest charges and collection activity.
Why do the timelines differ between Equifax and TransUnion?+
Each bureau applies its own retention policies, shaped by provincial consumer protection laws. For some items — such as a bankruptcy or a credit inquiry — TransUnion keeps the information longer in certain provinces. That is why your two reports can show different items.
Does my credit score automatically improve when a negative item falls off?+
Often, yes, especially if it was a major item like a collection or a bankruptcy. But your score depends on your whole file: if other negative items remain or your credit utilization is high, the effect will be more limited. Either way, a negative item's impact fades over time, even before it is removed.