Consumer Rights

Asking a Company for the Personal Information It Holds About You

Want to know what a company knows about you? Canadian privacy law gives you the right to ask. Here is how.

A computer keyboard sitting on top of a wooden table

Under the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), you can ask most private businesses in Ontario for access to the personal information they hold about you.

The short answer

Write to the company's privacy officer, describe what you want, and keep a copy. The company generally must respond within 30 days, and can charge only a minimal fee, if any. If it refuses or doesn't answer, you can complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

What you can ask for

  • What personal information the company has about you
  • How it has been used
  • Who it has been shared with

How to ask

  1. Find the company's privacy officer (often in its privacy policy).
  2. Send a written request describing the information you want and the time period.
  3. Include enough detail to identify you; you may be asked for ID.

Deadlines and fees

  • Generally 30 days to respond, with possible extensions.
  • No fee, or a minimal one if the company tells you in advance.

What can be withheld

A person in a suit writing on a document

Some information may be withheld, such as other people's information, legally privileged material, or confidential business information.

Corrections

If information is wrong, you can ask for it to be corrected.

Government bodies

Provincial and municipal bodies are covered by Ontario's freedom of information laws instead.

Talk to NEO

Need help with a consumer dispute? NEO can help you write a demand letter, or bring or defend a claim in Small Claims Court. Call 647-200-3526 or toll-free 888-519-2435, email info@neolegalservices.com, or book a free consultation.

Sources

Read next: A Company Lost Your Data: What to Do After a Data Breach

General Ontario legal information, not legal advice for your matter, and reading it does not create a retainer. Sources checked 16 October 2026: check the current law, forms and dates before you act.

Photos from Unsplash: a computer keyboard sitting on top of a wooden table · A person in a suit writing on a document.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.

Not sure where you stand? A licensed paralegal can look at your documents and tell you your options.

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Law Society of Ontario — Barreau de l'Ontario
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