Assignment Involves Transfer of Rights to Collect Outstanding Debts
Print Version (PDF) Home / Small Claims / Focus Cases / Debts and Liens / Assignment
Does the Law Allow a Creditor to Sell a Debt to Someone Else?
An Assignment of Debt Occurs When a Creditor, Being a Person Owed Money, Transfers the Right to Collect the Debt to Another Person Who Then Becomes the Creditor.
A Helpful Guide For How to Understand What Constitutes As a Legally Binding Assignment As Transfer of Creditor Rights
Debts on loans or balances owing for accounts receivables, among other monies, are often bought and sold. Such is a common occurrence within the world of business commerce. Basically, when a person borrows or lends money, the creditor within the transaction owns the rights to collect the monies due become an intangible asset that may be assigned, and thereby transferred, to another party who then stands in the shoes of the original creditor and may, subject to the same rights as were held by the original creditor, collect on the debt or even sell the right to collect to yet another party. The creditor to whom the original debt is transferred becomes known as the assignee.
Right to Collect on Debts
In Ontario, the Court of Appeal case of Clark v. Werden, 2011 ONCA 619 confirmed the right to assign debts per the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.34, whereas such statute prescribes the conditions and requirements for the transfer of rights involving monies, among other things, whereas it was said:
Clark v. Werden,2011 ONCA 619 at paragraph 13
[13] The ability to assign a debt or legal chose in action is codified in s. 53 of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, which provides that a debt is assignable subject to the equities between the original debtor and creditor and reads as follows:
53 (1) Any absolute assignment made on or after the 31st day of December, 1897, by writing under the hand of the assignor, not purporting to be by way of charge only, of any debt or other legal chose in action of which express notice in writing has been given to the debtor, trustee or other person from whom the assignor would have been entitled to receive or claim such debt or chose in action is effectual in law, subject to all equities that would have been entitled to priority over the right of the assignee if this section had not been enacted, to pass and transfer the legal right to such debt or chose in action from the date of such notice, and all legal and other remedies for the same, and the power to give a good discharge for the same without the concurrence of the assignor.
Partially Assigned
It is notable that the statute makes mention of, "absolute assignment" without clearly addressing the rights and method of treatment for a partial assignment of a debt. In this circumstance, where more than one assignee may obtain or assume the rights of the creditor (or earlier assignee), a partial assignee is required to join all assignees when bringing legal action against the debtor. This view was stated by the Court of Appeal in DiGuilo v. Boland, 1958 CanLII 92 where it was said:
DiGuilo v. Boland,1958 CanLII 92
The main reason why an assignee of a part of a debt is required to join all parties interested in the debt in an action to recover the part assigned to him is in my opinion because the Court cannot adjudicate completely and finally without having such parties before it. The absence of such parties might result in the debtor being subjected to future actions in respect of the same debt, and moreover might result in conflicting decisions being arrived at concerning such debt.
Failed Notice
Of potentially grave concern to creditors, and potentially with great relief to debtors, for an assignee to retain the right to pursue the debtor, express written notice of the assignment is required. This requirement was stated in 1124980 Ontario Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Inco Ltd., 2003 CanLII 45266 as part of the four part test to establish the right to pursue an assigned debt:
1124980 Ontario Inc. v. Liberty Mutual,2003 CanLII 45266 at paragraph 44
[44] Accordingly, for there to be a valid legal assignment under section 53(1) of the CLPA, four requirements must be met:
a) there must be debt or chose in action;
b) the assignment must be absolute;
c) the assignment must be written; and
d) written notice of the assignment must be given to the debtor.
Where there is a failure of notice, and therefore failure to comply with the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, it is said that the right to assign fails in law; however, relief in equity, via an equitable assignment may be available to an assignee affected by failure of notice. Generally, in equity, when failure of notice occurs, the assignee is unable, in law, to bring an action in the name of the assignee and may do so only in the name of the creditor; however, even in the absence of proper notice as results in failure of assignment in law, and failure ot enjoin the creditor in an action pursued as an equitable assignment, the court may remain prepared to waive such a requirement whereas such occurred in the matter of Landmark Vehicle Leasing Corporation v. Mister Twister Inc., 2015 ONCA 545 wherein it was stated:
Landmark v. Mister Twister,2015 ONCA 545 at paragraphs 10 to 16
[10] Section 53(1) requires "express notice in writing" to the debtor. Although there is some ambiguity in her reasons, it would appear that the trial judge found that Mr. Blazys had express notice of the assignment, but not notice in writing. Ross Wemp Leasing therefore did not assign the leases to Landmark in law: see 80 Mornelle Properties Inc. v. Malla Properties Ltd., 2010 ONCA 850 (CanLII), 327 D.L.R. (4th) 361, at para. 22. Ross Wemp Leasing did, however, assign the leases to Landmark in equity. An equitable assignment does not require any notice, let alone written notice: Bercovitz Estate v. Avigdor, [1961] O.J. No. 20 (C.A.), at paras. 16, 25.
[11] The appellants, relying on DiGuilo v. Boland, 1958 CanLII 92 (ON CA), [1958] O.R. 384 (C.A.), aff'd, [1961] S.C.C.A. vii, argue that as the appellants did not have written notice of the assignment, Landmark could not sue on its own. Instead, Landmark had to join Ross Wemp Leasing in the action. The appellants argue that the failure to join Ross Wemp Leasing requires that the judgment below be set aside.
[12] DiGuilo does in fact require that the assignor of a chose in action be joined in the assignee's claim against the debtor when the debtor has not received written notice of the assignment. The holding in DiGuilo tracks rule 5.03(3) of the Rules of Civil Procedure, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 194:
In a proceeding by the assignee of a debt or other chose in action, the assignor shall be joined as a party unless,
(a) the assignment is absolute and not by way of charge only; and
(b) notice in writing has been given to the person liable in respect of the debt or chose in action that it has been assigned to the assignee. [Emphasis added.]
[13] Yet the assignee's failure to join the assignor does not affect the validity of the assignment or necessarily vitiate a judgment obtained by the assignee against the debtor. Rule 5.03(6) reads:
The court may by order relieve against the requirement of joinder under this rule.
[14] The joinder requirement is intended to guard the debtor against a possible second action by the assignor and to permit the debtor to pursue any remedies it may have against the assignor without initiating another action: DiGuilo, at p. 395. Where the assignee's failure to join the assignor does not prejudice the debtor, the court may grant the relief in rule 5.03(6): see Gentra Canada Investments Inc. v. Lipson, 2011 ONCA 331 (CanLII), 106 O.R. (3d) 261, at paras. 59-65, leave to appeal refused, [2011] S.C.C.A. No. 327.
[15] In this case, the trial judge found that Mr. Blazys, and effectively all of the appellants, gained actual notice of the lease assignments very shortly after the assignments were made and well before Landmark sued. Armed with actual, albeit not written, notice of the assignment, the appellants could fully protect themselves against any prejudice from Landmark's failure to join Ross Wemp Leasing. Had the appellants seen any advantage in joining Ross Wemp Leasing, either to defend against Landmark's claim or to advance a claim against Ross Wemp Leasing, the appellants could have moved for joinder under rule 5.03(4). The appellants' failure to bring a motion to add Ross Wemp Leasing speaks loudly to the absence of any prejudice caused by Landmark's failure to join the assignor.
[16] Ross Wemp Leasing perhaps should have been a party to the proceeding. Landmark's failure to join Ross Wemp Leasing, however, did not prejudice the appellants and should have had no impact on the trial judgment. If requested, this court will make a nunc pro tunc order relieving Landmark from the requirement of joining Ross Wemp Leasing in the action.
Summary Comment
The rights to collect on a debt can be sold and transferred from the original creditor to a substitute creditor or assignee who then takes on the rights of the original creditor. Indeed, the selling and buying of individual debts, or debts within an entire portfolio debts is common within business. The entire collection services industry is based on the concept of buying outstanding debt and then standing in the shoes of the original creditor and pursuing the payment of the debt. Other forms of buying and selling debt includes mortgage swaps, among other things.
Jorge Andres Steinmetz. B. A.. Licensed Paralegal provides affordable services for clients located in Mississauga, Aurora, Burlington, Vaughan, Woodbridge, among other places!
Delayed Invoicing Practices; May Result In Expiry of Limitation Periods ...
Promissory Notes; Are Negotiable Instruments Containing Express Terms ...
Harsh Interest Terms; Constituting Unconscionable and Unenforceable ...
Jorge Andres Steinmetz. B. A.. Licensed Paralegal serves clients located in Mississauga, Milton, Hamilton, Newmarket, Oakville, among other places.CALL: (416) 716-2032
(Welland Courthouse)
Welland, Ontario, L3B 3W6
(Richmond Hill Court Filing Office)
8500 Leslie Street
Markham, Ontario, L3T 7M8
Have Legal Questions and Need Answers? Avoid Delays.
Contact Jorge Andres Steinmetz. B. A.. Licensed Paralegal
[2] This Court has, however, never required claimants to show a recognizable psychiatric illness as a precondition to recovery for mental injury. Nor, in my view, would it be desirable for it to do so now. ...
~ Supreme Court of Canada
Saadati v. Moorhead, [2017] 1 S.C.R. 543
Jorge Andres Steinmetz is a Paralegal entity operating/marketed brandname, and is licenced by the Law Society of Ontario to provide legal services addressing particular legal issues within the permissible scope of the licence of a licensed Paralegal; and which to some measure, may involve Consumer Law, Employment Law, Business & Commerce, Criminal Law (Summary), Administrative Law, Tort Law, Residential Tenancies, Contract Law, Real Estate Disputes, Corporate Law, Provincial Offences, and Insurance Law issues, within the Province of Ontario, Canada.