I would agree with you it is a stupid system....if paid off privately what is the difference.

At the end of the day the debt is paid off regardless without the added expense.
Just another dumb rule.

No it is not new Monty.
Has been a policy with both reporting agencies for quite awhile.
Purges after 3 yrs but only if paid through a registered consumer proposa l or a voluntary deposit OPD. Read the back of your credit reports or on one of the supplemental sheets they give.

Hmmm.....
Credit takes time to repair... it's not an instant thing....
If you're illiquid and don't pay your debts, then of course there is going to be repercussions

People just need to be educated as to the process... that is why this site is set up... people will default on credit.. it's a given... it's a painful situation... it takes years to work itself out sometimes....

Best thing to repair y our credit is to : build up some cash, pay down your current credit... don't look for more credit until you have cash built up....

TJ Brooks.. is this a new thing?

3 yrs from the date paid.
Only if it is paid through a registered Consumer Proposal,or with orderly payments of debt (OPD) through credit counselling it will purge 3 yrs from date debt is paid.
If you just paid the creditor off outright it will still show 6 years from the date of default.

From my understanding... settled debt is debt that is bad.. written off - R9

I'm not sure why they would reward somebody for doing debt settlement or OPD with only 3 years...

I don't get the judgmental tone at all. If someone is coming for help then either give it to them or don't. It would be nice if this were a safe place to get useful information. That being said, to protect yourself from any legal action, you could just get somewhere close to 50% of your total debt together and start making offers to settle. These collection agencies settle debts like yours EVERY DAY.

If the account is in severe arrears the account is probably closed. BUT that does not mean that they will stop sending statements. They want their money that is owed to them.

I really don't see any reason for those words at all. I'm not going to justify myself to a stranger, no matter how he feels about my actions.
I appreciate the other answers, as I already said.

Since it has been about 2 yrs now since you defaulted, they are all still there for about 4 more yrs.
You complain about not being able to get a phone contract....how can you blame them...who should trust you now.

I suggest you get a prepaid phone.
In a nut shell if all you have on your report is 4 or 5 R'9s...your credit is screwed for another 4 yrs...atleast.
And they still have 4 years to sue you.

What did you expect?
They will continue to try to collect their money on all these accounts and all will remain for 6 yrs.
Even if you paid them all off tomorrow they would remain. That is the whole purpose of the credit bureau....to report accurately your credit history.
Just because you left country for awhile does not mean your debt is forgiven. Now you pay the consequences.......no credit.
Funny you had money to leave country and pay for planes etc...but not your debt.
Give your head a shake.

And yes, I've asked them to close the account about a month ago when I came back to Canada and found out they are still sending the bill so it's open.