Hi all.  To very briefly explain my position...

I briefly went to school in Ontario in the mid-90's, had the full OSAP loan amount, left school and most of the money was returned.  Only a few thousand remained.  Being young and stupid, I never did anything about it.  I never received any information about repaying the money.  2 years later, a small BC collection agency with very poor stationary attempted to collect the debt.  I paid them pocket change and wrote a letter stating my situation and how much I could pay monthly; there was never a response.

Now, nearly 6 years to date of last contact with the collection agency, a second collection agency has begun making inquiries.  I have never had my taxes or GST removed, my credit has never been affected in any form and the loan does not exist in my credit report.  I moved to a different province and have to returned to school on my own dime.

Question:  What the hell happened to the loan and what is this company trying to collect on today?  I've been reading posts here and information other sites, is this loan even a student loan anymore?  Does it qualify for a statute of limitations? And how do I find out more info without you know what?  Has the collection agency "bought" my Provincial loan, and what right do they have trying to collect after nearly 6 years.  Does the Ontario 2 year statute of limitations affect me or does my Provincial regulations take president?

 nccmbc,

 This sounds like a "purchase receivable" from a collection agency. OSAP "sells" their aged accounts to agencies from time to time. They probably paid 5-10 cents on the dollar for it.

 If you haven't made any payment, or written acknowledgment towards the loan from the date of default, it would be stats barred. The only way to find out is to call OSAP and ask them "VERBALLY
" what the date of default was. If it is stats barred, the agency is stuck with the loan as they bought it. They paid it for you in a sense.

 This type of loan would not show on your credit history because it is OSAP (CSL and provincial direct/guaranteed loans) do not report to bureaus.

 Johnny

Thank you so MUCH Johnny!!

I won't count myself off the hook just yet, but that is very good information I need to look into.

When you say the day of default, does this include the last day I dealt with a collection agency?  Does leaving messages on my answering machine by the current agency void stats barred?

Getting closer to an answer, THANK YOU!!   

Oh!!

If for some reason it is not stats barred, what about the co-signer of the original OSAP loan?  This may sound cruel and sadistic, but I hold the co-signers 50% responsible for my circumstance, why have they never been called to repay the debt?  How do I point the agency towards the co-signer for at least half?

Thanks again!

OOpss!!  What if I paid a small portion (<$200) to the first collection agency 2 years after leaving school?

I think my head is going explode!! ]

Nah!!  I don't own anything, I don't make anything, and they can't take my dog!!

I just found this on the OSAP website, will contacting the bank I dealt with jeopardize my status or will it be okay?  If I find out that I'm not stats barred, should I contact the bank just to get information on the loan?  I have lost ALL documentation, I don't have a single piece of paper, it was nearly 9 years ago after all.

 Just contact ASAp, but not in writing. Calling them does noty constitute acknowledgment because it cannot be a proven activity. If they ask you to forward it in writing, this means they "could" be attempting to ure you into the acknowledging the debt "after the fact". That is risky. As long as you are talking with them, no harm done.

 Truly, if you haven't made a payment or supplied a written acknowledgment from the date of your last payment... It could very well be stats barred. My guess... it is.  CSL works much differently in this case (for those who may get confused by this post).

 Johnny