What is ARO Inc?
ARO Inc is a debt collection and accounts receivable management agency that helps businesses and government entities recover unpaid debts.
The company was founded in 1994 and operates across Canada, with offices in Montreal (head office), Markham, Kelowna and Burlington.
ARO collects for major Canadian banks, telecoms and government bodies, including CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, Bell, Rogers, Telus and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Why is ARO Inc calling me?
A call, text, email or letter from ARO means they believe you owe a debt to a creditor they collect for.
Usually, the debt is real. Sometimes it's an old account you forgot about, a mistake, a debt that isn't yours, or a scam using a real company's name.
Should you ignore a call from ARO Inc?
No, do not ignore calls from ARO Inc. ARO is a legitimate collection agency in Canada. Ignoring them can damage your credit score or result in legal action.
Ask for written proof before you confirm anything or pay. Don't confirm your details or that the debt is yours until they send it in writing.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Dealing with a debt collector
Who does ARO Inc collect for?
ARO collects for businesses across Canada, including banks, telecom companies, utilities and government bodies. Consumers have reported that ARO contacts them about debts from these sectors.
Treat any creditor claim as unconfirmed until you get written verification tied to your specific account.
Consumer reports link ARO Inc to 24 creditors, most often in banking, telecom and government.
| Industry | Consumer-reported creditors |
|---|---|
| Telecommunications | |
| Banking & Financial Services | |
| Utilities | |
| Government & Municipal | |
| Tolls | |
| Education & Student Loans | OSAPSimon Fraser University |
Know another company ARO Inc collects for?
The Province of British Columbia lists ARO Inc as an authorized collection agency for MSP premium debt. The City of Toronto lists ARO Inc as a collection agency for unpaid Provincial Offences Act fines.
Sources: Province of British Columbia and City of Toronto
How to verify who ARO Inc collects for
If someone claims ARO is collecting on behalf of a specific company, don't rely on what they tell you over the phone.
Request written verification that includes the creditor's name, account reference, and current balance.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Debt collection: know your rights
Is ARO a legitimate collection agency?
ARO Inc is a legitimate collection agency that has operated in Canada since 1994. Even so, users often report its calls as spam or a scam. The debt is usually real.
ARO is a member of the Canadian Society of Collection Agencies, the Credit Association of Greater Toronto and the Receivables Management Association of Canada.
Fraudulent callers impersonate real agencies. If you need to verify or dispute a debt, call ARO's headquarters in Montreal at 1-877-322-1414, or visit the ARO website. Don't use the number or email that contacted you.
Will ARO Inc affect my credit score?
A collection account from ARO Inc will severely damage your credit score once it's reported to Equifax or TransUnion.
It stays on your credit report for 6 years from the date of your first missed payment, known as the date of first delinquency. Paying it won't remove the mark from your credit file but updates the status to paid, which looks better to future lenders.
Source: Equifax Canada – How long does information stay on my credit report
What to do if ARO Inc calls you (step by step)
What if the debt is old?
Every province has a time limit on how long a collection agency like ARO Inc can sue you for an unpaid debt.
Ontario, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
Quebec
Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon
Once the limitation period expires, ARO Inc can still sue you, but you can raise the expired limitation period as a complete defence. The defence isn't automatic. You have to file a defence in court and plead the expired limitation period. If you don't, the court will grant default judgment as if the limitation didn't apply.
Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing restarts the limitation period, but only if it hasn't already expired.
These limitation periods apply to most consumer debts like credit cards, lines of credit, and personal loans. Different rules may apply to government debts, court judgments, or secured debts like mortgages.
For more information, read our guide about debt statute of limitations.
How to stop calls from ARO Inc
Sometimes, you can stop collection calls from a collection agency by sending a cease and desist letter. Once ARO Inc receive it, they have to stop calling. The debt doesn't go away, and they can still take legal action. You can use our cease and desist letter templates.
Provincial law doesn't give you this right in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island or the Yukon.
Regardless of province, if the debt's on a loan, line of credit, or credit card, send the letter by registered mail under federal law. Federal law is the only law in Canada that also stops an original creditor's in-house collectors, not just a collection agency. You can send it to your original creditor and its collection agent, a collection agency or a law firm.
If ARO Inc is making collection calls to you from its Ontario location, then you can send a cease and desist letter available under Ontario's law.
Restrictions on calls to your workplace
Many provinces and territories place restrictions on collection agencies when they attempt to call you at your workplace.
How to file a complaint about ARO
In Canada, debt collection is regulated province by province, not federally. Those rules ban harassment and false or misleading statements.
If you believe ARO has breached debt collection rules, contact the consumer protection authority in your province.
Before filing, document the dates and times of contact, the phone number used, what was said, and copies of any emails, letters or texts. This record strengthens your complaint.
For contact details and links to your provincial office, visit the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Consumer Affairs Offices directory.
