International Student Debt before SIN

[kipiloji]

Hello everyone, tried to search the forums for info, but sadly couldn't find anything solid. Nevertheless, I've learned many useful things, great forum and members!

I have a question. I am an international student here in Canada since 2010, went back to my country for almost a year. I don't have a social insurance number. I owe Rogers some money from 2011, I don't know how much (at the time it was around 300ish, is there a way to learn it exactly?) I was back in my country at that time and sent the money to someone so he could pay. Apparently he didn't and pulled a fraud on me. I changed my address and everything when I get back thinking the debt was paid and learnt this after like 2 years. I was scared it'd be thousands of dollars so didn't even bother to look into it.

And this summer, I'm planning to get a SIN. I've heard it wouldn't effect anything since I don't have an income, asset or even a social insurance number here in Canada. Is this right? Would it effect my credit?

I know some dude who've changed his name before getting a permit (he was a refugee) and his credit didn't get effected at all.

I could pay my debt but I'm not going to lie, I hated everything about Rogers and it'd make me feel good not paying them any money.

So how does this work, my credit after I get my SIN? Anyone who knows anything about this? I'd gladly pay money to a lawyer instead of paying to Rogers, I dislike the company a lot.

 

[Papa Bomboy]

Did you sign up with your drivers licence , a passport or a credit card back in 2011?

I can't advice you not to pay your debt man. Just do if you can. No need to try and guess the different outcomes.
On the other hand, a buddy of mine, went ham on a couple of credit cards especially the high interest rate ones. He also owed the same rogers, phone bills , cable, internet and home phone. Speak of recklessness. He didn't have a sin at the time and collection had his phone on speed dial.

We all told him he is screwed for at least 7 years. But here is the twist, he got his P.R with a new sin and bought a house with a high credit score too.

Not trying to encourage you but thats what I witnessed.

You might lose your ability to own a phone if you try to sign up with rogers again or a network owned by rogers if you don't pay up.

Just pay it man. I hope collection isn't calling yet.

 

[kipiloji]

Thanks for the reply @Papa_Bombay

I don't have a drivers licence, nor I did sign with my passport. I only had a temporary ID which I got from registry at that time so I've used that. I also don't have any credit cards, my bank called me couple of times to offer a credit card but I always refused it. I have 2 credit cards from my country, I use them if necessary.

So I have a temporary Canadian ID which looks like citizen IDs but only valid until the last day of my study permit. Basically I have absolutely nothing in Canada except my bank account and my school.

I would never touch Rogers again even if they offer me the moon, so no problems there.

What is that collection you mentioned?

 

[Papa Bomboy]

Thanks for the reply @ Papa_Bombay

I don't have a drivers licence, nor I did sign with my passport. I only had a temporary ID which I got from registry at that time so I've used that. I also don't have any credit cards, my bank called me couple of times to offer a credit card but I always refused it. I have 2 credit cards from my country, I use them if necessary.

So I have a temporary Canadian ID which looks like citizen IDs but only valid until the last day of my study permit. Basically I have absolutely nothing in Canada except my bank account and my school.

I would never touch Rogers again even if they offer me the moon, so no problems there.

What is that collection you mentioned?

Collection agencies act on behalf of the institution you owe money to. They are basically supposed to deploy all kinds of methods into forcing you to pay your debt e.g constantly harassing you with phone calls, making threats and constantly sending you letters in the mail to pay up. They also add interest to the original amount owed and can call you for years if they have all your current contact details.

Not fun man.

It sounds like you are off the hook on this one, since you didn't sign up with the identifications I mentioned above.

You can also try to look up your credit score: see equifax.ca