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stop collection agency calls

Dealing with Collection Agencies:
How Can I Stop Collection Calls?

Collection Agencies are calling you for one simple reason: they want to collect money.  What do you need to know about dealing with collection agencies?  What can you do to stop collection calls?  There are three ways to stop collection agents from calling:

Make a deal with the collection agency
File a consumer proposal
File for bankruptcy

Note: If you don’t believe you owe the debt, ask for a written notice from the collection agency with the details of the debt.  In cases of mistaken identity or identity theft, or if you have already paid the debt, you should not be held responsible for the debt. Advise the collection agency that you will not pay unless they can prove that you owe the money.

If you can’t pay the debt with your other commitments, asking a professional for help will start turning your life around. Don’t be scared off by our title, Bankruptcy Trustees.  We can help you with alternatives to bankruptcy as well as bankruptcy in Ontario. The Bankruptcy trustees at Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc. will be pleased to help you assess your financial problem and develop a solution that fits your situation and your personal budget. The first consultation is confidential and always free of charge.

How do I deal with collection agencies?  What should I say when the collection agency calls?

You should be dealing with collection agencies in a forthright and professional manner. Try to treat them the way that you like to be treated yourself. Don’t allow them to bully you into making commitments that you know you can’t keep. If you make a commitment - keep it. If you can't, be certain to explain to the collection agent why you couldn’t.

Do not ignore collection agency’s phone calls or letters. When dealing with collection agencies, remember that most collection agents earn a commission on every dollar they collect from you. So they will not simply go away if you avoid their calls. Ignoring them would eventually stop collection calls, but if they can’t reach you, they may simply proceed with legal action. The legal action could include a wage garnishment which will hurt your reputation at work.

How can I get more information about collection agencies?

Knowing more about collection agencies might help you in dealing with them. To get more detailed information about collection agencies, we suggest the following:

  • Contact the Ministry of Consumer and Corporate Relations and request a copy of their free brochure "A Consumer's Guide to Collection Agencies" 1-800-268-1142
  • Obtain a copy of the Collection Agencies Act of Ontario.

A Partial List of Rules Collection Agencies Have to Follow:

  • You must be notified in writing at your last known address when a company gives your overdue account to an agency for collection. You have a responsibility to make certain that your creditors are notified when your address changes so that you will receive these and other notices.
  • Collection agencies may not make telephone calls of such a nature or frequency that they constitute harassment of you or your family, including repeated calls to you while you’re at work. If you believe a collection agency is harassing you, keep a record of the time, date and frequency of the calls. If you decide to make a formal complaint against the collection agency you will require this information.
  • Collection agencies may not call you on a Sunday, statutory holiday or on any day before 7 am or after 9 p.m.
  • Collection agencies may not contact your friends, relatives, neighbours or employer for any information other than your address or telephone number, with limited exceptions. These exceptions involve special cases, when, for example, someone has cosigned for a good or service you have purchased.

If your money problems have become too big to deal with yourself, if further dealing with collection agencies is more than you can handle, then seek professional help. To find out what’s the best choice in your situation, or just to get your debt and bankruptcy questions answered, call one of our bankruptcy offices in Ontario or contact a bankruptcy trustee by email today.

Bankruptcy trustees at Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc. will be pleased to help you assess your financial problem and develop a solution that fits your situation and your personal budget. Our first consultation with you is confidential and always free of charge.