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General rule
According to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, late or unpaid credit card and loan information stays for up to 6 years. Equifax counts 6 years from the date reported; TransUnion counts from the date the account first went delinquent. Paying the balance doesn't remove the late-payment record.
Recovery
Its impact usually fades as you build a record of on-time payments.
Check your report
Make sure dates and details are correct, and dispute errors.
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