At a glance ARO Inc (also known as "ARO Collections") is a Canadian debt collection agency founded in 1994.
If ARO contacts you, a creditor has passed your account to them for collection. Before confirming any debt or providing personal details, ask them to send a written notice detailing the original creditor and the exact amount owed.
If the amount looks wrong or you don't recognize the debt, dispute it in writing. If the agency calls outside allowed hours, harasses you, or breaks any other rule, complain to your provincial regulator.
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.
Contact ARO Inc
1-877-322-1414
Contact this debt collection agency to verify details, dispute the debt or resolve your account.
Visit agency websiteWhy 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?
Don't ignore ARO Inc, but 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.
Industry | Consumer-reported creditors |
|---|---|
Telecommunications | Bell Canada, Rogers, Telus, Koodo, Shaw, Videotron |
Financial services | CIBC, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Tangerine, Desjardins, ATB Financial |
Buy now, pay later | Affirm |
Utilities | EPCOR, Reliance Home Comfort |
Government | Canada Revenue Agency, Province of British Columbia, City of Toronto, OSAP |
Education | Simon Fraser University |
Retail | Canadian Tire |
Note: These creditors are based on consumer reports and online discussions. They aren't 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
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
Companies that use ARO Inc for debt collection
Submitted by consumers. We try to verify these reports but cannot always confirm them.
Know another company ARO Inc collects for?
ARO Inc phone numbers
These numbers are commonly associated with ARO Inc:
| Phone number | Type |
|---|---|
| Main | |
| Local Office | |
| Local Office | |
| Local Office | |
| Local Office |
Some numbers are submitted by users. We call to verify each one and recheck periodically, but numbers can change.
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?
ARO Inc is a legitimate collection agency that's 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
Check your own report to see whether ARO Inc has reported the account and whether the information is correct.
What to do if ARO Inc calls you (step by step)
Step 1: Ask for written verification. Get the original creditor's name, amount, account number and the date of last activity. Don't confirm anything until you've reviewed it 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 credit report to see what ARO Inc has reported about you. Get your free credit score and report with Borrowell.
Step 4: Dispute the debt in writing if it's wrong. Keep copies of everything you send.
Step 5: Check the statute of limitations in your province before you pay or acknowledge the debt in writing.
Step 6: Settle if the debt is correct. Sometimes, ARO Inc might accept a one-time lump sum for less than the full balance. Get any agreement in writing before you pay.
Step 7: Pay by a traceable method like online banking, e-Transfer, or card. Get a receipt.
Step 8: Get help if you can't pay. Talk to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee or non-profit credit counsellor.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) – Dealing with a debt collector
Not in Ontario, Alberta, BC, Nunavut or the NWT? Find a trustee in your province
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 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.
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
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.
FAQs
Is ARO Inc the same as ARO Collections?
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 with ARO's official contact information and request written confirmation that the debt is real.
Can ARO call me at any time?
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
What if I don't recognize a debt from ARO?
A debt from ARO you don't recognize usually comes down to one of five reasons. You forgot about it, another company bought it, it's an old account resurfacing, it's a mistake, or it's 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.
Can ARO garnish my wages or freeze my bank account?
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.
Can ARO contact my family or employer?
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
Can I negotiate a settlement with ARO?
ARO might be willing to accept a one-time lump-sum payment of less than the outstanding balance as full settlement. This depends on several factors, and they must obtain the creditor's permission. Before providing any settlement funds, get the agreement in writing.
What happens if I ignore ARO?
Ignoring ARO Inc doesn't make the debt disappear. They can continue reporting the debt to the credit bureaus, which damages your credit score. The creditor can also take you to court.
If you can't pay, speak with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee or non-profit credit counselling service about your options.
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Joe launched CollectionAgencies.ca in 2025. He has worked in Canadian personal finance since 2023. 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.