Merry Christmas to all....
With regards to the time limits within which collectors and their agencies can call or write re debts..it's probably best to consult the collection laws, the collection regulations and maybe the Statutes dealing with "limitations" in Alberta.
The Collection rules are found buried in the FAIR TRADING ACT of Alberta, at Section 11. The ACT can be found on the net at...
http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/acts/F02.CFM The appropriate sections are Sections 109-118.
Also have a read of the COLLECTION PRACTICE REGULATIONS, also on the net, at...
http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/regs/1999_194.cfm
Then read the LIMITATIONS ACT found at...
http://www.canlii.org/ab/laws/sta/l-12/20051114/whole.html
With regards to your post, I cannot add anything about a bank's authority to right off a debt or when they can do this. Nor can I comment of the 18 month term.
But I can note that if calls are coming to your work place, the ACT talks about how to avoid this in Alberta..at section 116 (1) (n) and if calls are becoming a hassle there or at home..perhaps the harrassment section at... Section 116(1)(j) may play a role.
And a very interesting section, at 116(2) says that a lot of the provisions, including those above, apply even in the cases where the creditor has actually "ASSIGNED" the account to the collector/agency.
But of much more interest appears to be the provisions of the LIMITATIONS ACT.
A very brief read of it seems to suggest that you may be onto something. It appears to say that once there is a formal demand for payment from you, the clock starts running. IF you make no payment, nor an admission of responsibilioty for the debt for a period of TWO YEARS, this law seems to say the ACT is a defence for you and it bars the creditor and the collectors from collecting.
The ACT seems to even add that for you to admit ownership of the debt..this MUST BE DONE IN WRITING BY YOU, and such could be a written acknowledgemet of debt,,or a part payment on it. Failing these two... and a two year lapse... it seems the debt is no longer due.
And folks, if it is not due, it seems the colector, his/her agency and the cerditor can get in a whole lot of KA KA for attempting to collect on a debt not due.
I would suggest that if this seems to be your case, that you talk to legal aid or a lawyer for clarification. In the mean time, go to the above sites and read away.
cheers,
BA