I was so scared when the phone started ringing! But then I found out about the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act in Ontario. Did you know they can't just do whatever they want? I'm documenting everything I learned right here!
Ouch, no! I actually checked the rules and they can only call between 7 AM and 9 PM from Monday to Saturday. Sunday is even stricter—only 1 PM to 5 PM! I was so relieved to find this out because I thought my phone would never stop buzzing.
Yes! This was a huge "aha" moment for me. They HAVE to send a written notice at least 6 days before they even try to call you. If they didn't send that letter, they are technically breaking the law. Check out my list of common collection errors to see if this happened to you!
Guess what? You can! If you send them a registered letter saying you only want to be contacted in writing, they must stop calling your phone. It sounds so simple, but I had no idea until I started digging into the Ontario statutes.
You have the right to ask for a breakdown of the debt. Don't just take their word for it! Ask for the original creditor's name and the exact amount.
This is crazy—debts have an expiration date for lawsuits! Usually, it's 2 years in Ontario. I wrote more about this in the Ontario 2-year limitation period guide.
They cannot use threatening language or call your boss (unless it's to confirm your job). Stay strong! You aren't a criminal just because you owe money.
I spent all last night reading the actual Act. It's boring, but wow, the information is powerful! I found out that collection agencies are strictly prohibited from certain behaviors. For example, they can't give false or misleading information. If they tell you that you'll go to jail—that is a lie! In Canada, we don't have debtor's prisons.
Another thing I learned: they can't charge you extra fees for "collecting" the debt unless it's specifically allowed by law. Usually, the amount you owe is the amount you owe, plus maybe some interest. If they add a "convenience fee" of $50 just to talk to them? Nope! That's likely a violation of the Ontario rules.
If any of this happens, you can actually file a complaint with the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery. I didn't know we had people on our side! It makes me feel much less alone in this whole "debt mess." I'm also keeping an eye on my Equifax and TransUnion reporting to make sure they aren't double-counting things.
| Day of the Week | Permitted Hours | My Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday - Saturday | 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM | Still feels like a lot of time, right? |
| Sunday | 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Only 4 hours! I love Sundays. |
| Statutory Holidays | PROHIBITED | Wait, really? Zero calls on holidays! Ogo! |
Fig. 1: Summary of contact hours based on the Ontario Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act.
I'm still learning too, but I've found some amazing tools in Ottawa that helped me organize my life. Don't let the phone calls get you down!