What happens if I ignore debt collection calls and letters in Ontario?

Ignoring debt collectors does not make the debt disappear. In Ontario, if a creditor or its collection agency continues to hold a valid, time-limited debt, they may escalate from calls and letters to filing a lawsuit in court. If they obtain a judgment against you, they gain powerful enforcement tools: wage garnishment, bank account garnishment, or a writ of seizure and sale placed against your property.

The Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act regulates how collectors may contact you. They must stop calling you at work if you tell them your employer prohibits such calls, and they cannot contact you at unreasonable hours. You can require a collector to correspond in writing only. However, obeying these rules does not prevent the underlying creditor from suing you in court.

Negative entries on your credit report are a separate consequence. An unpaid collection account typically remains on a credit bureau report for up to six years from the date of first delinquency, affecting your ability to borrow or rent.

The safest step is to understand what you actually owe, verify the debt is legitimate, check whether the limitation period has expired, and, if necessary, speak with a lawyer about your options.