At a glance ARO Inc (also known as "ARO Collections") is a Canadian debt collection agency founded in 1994.
If ARO contacts you, request written verification of the debt before sharing personal information or making payments.
Debt collection rules vary by province, but there are rules on harassment, misleading statements, and when collectors can contact you.
What is ARO Inc?
ARO Inc is a debt collection agency that helps businesses recover unpaid debts.
The company was founded in 1994 and operates across Canada, with offices in Montreal (head office), Markham, Kelowna, and Burlington.
If a business assigns your debt to a collection agency, you receive calls, emails, letters or voicemails asking you to repay what's owed.
Some consumers report that ARO can be persistent with phone calls, but may be willing to negotiate in some cases.
Contact ARO Inc
Contact this debt collection agency to verify details, dispute the debt, or resolve your account.
Visit ARO Inc websiteWhy is ARO Inc calling me?
If you've received a call, voicemail, text message, email or letter from ARO, it means they believe you have an unpaid debt with a creditor they represent.
Sometimes the debt is valid. Sometimes it's an old account, a mistake, a debt you don't recognize, or a scam attempt using a real company name.
The first thing you should do is ask for written verification of the debt before you confirm anything or make a payment.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Dealing with a debt collector
What to ask ARO for before you pay
Ask for written documentation before confirming any personal details or making a payment. You need:
- The original creditor's name
- The amount owed
- The account reference number
- The date the debt relates to (if available)
Getting this in writing lets you verify whether the debt is legitimate. It also creates a record of what you were told.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Debt collection: know your rights
Who does ARO Inc collect for?
Collection agencies work with all kinds of businesses. Consumers have reported that ARO contacts them about debts from a wide range of sectors.
You should always treat creditor claims as unconfirmed until you receive written verification tied to your specific account.
Industry | Consumer-reported examples |
|---|---|
Telecommunications | Phone/internet/cable providers (Bell Canada) |
Financial services | Banks, credit card companies (CIBC, RBC Royal Bank) |
Utilities | Hydro/gas/water providers (Reliance Home Comfort, EPCOR) |
Government | Province of British Columbia (MSP premiums), City of Toronto (unpaid POA fines), OSAP student loans |
Healthcare | Hospitals and medical providers |
Education | Student loan accounts |
Retail | Stores with unpaid customer accounts |
Commercial | Business-to-business debts |
Note: The companies listed above are based on consumer reports and online discussions. They don't represent confirmed business relationships with ARO Inc.
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
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
Companies that use ARO Inc for debt collection
Reported by consumers
Know another company ARO Inc collects for?
ARO Inc phone numbers
These numbers are commonly associated with ARO Inc:
| Phone number | Type |
|---|---|
| Main | |
| General | |
| General | |
| General | |
| General |
Got a call from a number not shown here?
If you receive a call from a different number claiming to be ARO Inc, verify the debt in writing and confirm the details before paying.
Is ARO a legitimate collection agency?
Yes. ARO Inc is a legitimate debt collection agency that has been operating in Canada since 1994. The company publicly lists its corporate address and contact details.
ARO's branches and employees are licensed through provincial regulatory bodies.
Is ARO Inc a licensed collection agency in Ontario?
ARO Inc. is registered in Ontario as a collection agency under the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act. The table below shows confirmed licence records as of March 2026.
| Legal Name | Location | Licence number | Status | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARO Inc. | Markham, ON | 4693838 | Issued | Sep 1, 2026 |
| ARO Inc. | Montreal, QC | 4740315 | Issued | Feb 17, 2027 |
| ARO Inc. | Kelowna, BC | 4741342 | Issued | Oct 13, 2026 |
Source: Government of Ontario – Search for a business licence (March 2026)
Is ARO Inc a licensed collection agency in Alberta?
ARO Inc. is registered in Alberta as a collection agency under the Collection and Debt Repayment Practices Regulation. The table below shows the confirmed licence record as of March 2026.
| Business Name | Trading As | Location | Bonded | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARO Inc. | — | Edmonton, AB | Yes | Oct 31, 2026 |
Source: Service Alberta – Find out if a Business is Licenced (March 2026)
Is ARO Inc a licensed collection agency in Quebec?
ARO Inc. is registered in Québec as a collection agency and operates under the Consumer Protection Act, with oversight from the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC). The table below shows the confirmed licence record as of March 2026.
| Legal Name | Location | Permit number |
|---|---|---|
| ARO Inc. | Montréal, QC | 400488 |
Source: Office de la protection du consommateur (March 2026)
ARO Inc holds permit 400488 and also operates as Agence de recouvrement Ogilvie and GO.
Scammers sometimes impersonate legitimate debt collectors. Always verify any debt in writing before making payments, and confirm contact details on ARO's official website rather than relying on a voicemail or text messages.
What to do if ARO Inc calls you (step by step)
Step 1: Ask for written verification. Get the original creditor's name, the amount claimed, the date of last activity, and the account number. Don't confirm anything until you've reviewed everything in writing.
Step 2: Don't share personal details. No address, date of birth or banking information until you've confirmed the debt is yours.
Step 3: Check your own records. Pull your credit report from Equifax or TransUnion and compare it to what ARO Inc sent you.
Step 4: Dispute the debt in writing if it's wrong. Keep copies of everything you send.
Step 5: Negotiate if the debt is correct. You can offer a lump sum for less than the full amount or arrange a payment plan. Get any agreement in writing before you pay.
Step 6: Pay by a traceable method. Collection agencies like ARO Inc typically accept online banking, Interac e-Transfer, credit or debit card through their website, or in person at a bank branch. Always get a receipt.
Step 7: Talk to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee or non-profit credit counselling service if you owe the debt and can't pay.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) – Dealing with a debt collector
Only consider a loan or a line of credit if you can comfortably afford the repayments. If you're unsure what to do, speak to a non-profit credit counsellor or a Licensed Insolvency Trustee first.
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.
| Province / Territory | Limitation period |
|---|---|
| Ontario, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia | 2 years |
| Quebec | 3 years |
| Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon | 6 years |
Once the limitation period expires, ARO Inc can still sue you, but you can raise the expired limitation period as a defence. If you do, the court will dismiss the case.
Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing restarts the limitation period, but only if it hasn't already expired. If you're unsure whether a debt is still within the limitation period, get legal advice before making any payment.
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 ARO Inc from calling
If you want phone calls to stop, send ARO Inc a written request. It won't erase the debt or prevent legal action, but it stops repeated calls, depending on your province.
Copy and paste this template:
Hello,
I request that you stop contacting me by phone regarding this account and communicate with me only in writing.
Please send written verification of the debt, including:
- The original creditor name
- The amount claimed
- A breakdown of principal, interest and fees
- The account reference number
- The date of last activity on the account
Do not contact me at my workplace.
Thank you,
[Your full name]
[Your mailing address or email]
[Your phone number (optional)]
[Date]
Note: Check your province's rules for any requirements to stop contact.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Dealing with a debt collector
Accreditations
ARO Inc locations
Locations that ARO Inc operate in:
Provinces served
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
Legal Name
ARO Inc.
Also known as
ARO Incorporated
Collection Agency Ogilvie Inc.
Common variations
People sometimes search for this agency under slightly different names or misspellings. These are the most common variations we see.
ARO Collection Agency
ARO Company
ARO Collections Canada
How to file a complaint about ARO
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.
FAQs
Yes. People often search "ARO Collections" when they mean ARO Inc. The safest way to confirm you're dealing with the real company is to verify details using official contact information from ARO's website and request written confirmation that the debt is real.
No. Contact rules depend on your province. In Ontario, collectors cannot call before 7:00 AM or after 9:00 PM on weekdays, and Sunday calls are restricted to 1:00 PM–5:00 PM. Calls on public holidays are prohibited. Other provinces have similar restrictions.
Source: Government of Ontario - A guide for collection agencies
There are several possible reasons: you may have forgotten about it, another company may have sold the debt, it may be an old account resurfacing, it may be a mistake, or it may be a scam.
Request written verification showing the original creditor's name and the amount owed. Don't pay until you've confirmed it's legitimate. If you believe there's an error, dispute the debt in writing.
Not without a court judgment first. To garnish wages or freeze accounts, a creditor needs to take you to court and win. A phone call from ARO does not mean they have a judgment against you.
Collection agencies can contact third parties to locate you, but they cannot discuss your debt with anyone else. If you ask them to stop calling your workplace, they must stop.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Debt collection: know your rights
If ARO reports a collection account to the credit bureaus, it stays on your credit report for 6 years from the date of last activity in most provinces. This applies even after you pay the balance.
If a debt is sent to collections, it lowers your credit score.
Paying may improve your credit score over time, but it doesn't remove the entry immediately.
Other collection agencies in Canada
Joe launched CollectionAgencies.ca in 2025. He maintains the directory, researches collection agencies across Canada, and manages the site's editorial content. Agency listings are sourced from provincial licensing records and legislation.