At a glance C3 Canada (formerly A-1 Credit Recovery & Collection Services) is a Canadian debt collection agency founded in 2006 and acquired by C3 Canada Corporation in February 2023.
If C3 Canada 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 C3 Canada?
C3 Canada is a debt collection agency that helps businesses recover unpaid debts. You may also see them referred to as C3 Canada Collections.
The company was founded in 2006 by Anna Day and Brian Cherry, initially starting as A-1 Credit Recovery & Collection Services Inc.
In February 2023, C3 Canada Corporation acquired the business.
C3 Canada operates across Canada with offices in Edmonton (head office), Toronto and Laval.
Contact C3 Canada
1-866-537-6868
Contact this debt collection agency to verify details, dispute the debt or resolve your account.
Visit agency websiteWhy is C3 Canada calling me?
If you've received a call, email or letter from C3 Canada, it typically means they are trying to recover an unpaid debt on behalf of a creditor they represent.
Often, you will owe money. Other times, it might be an old account, a mistake, a debt you don't recognize, or even a scam attempt using a real company name.
The first thing you should do is request written verification of the debt before you confirm anything or make any payments.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Dealing with a debt collector
Who does C3 Canada collect for?
Collection agencies like C3 Canada work with many different businesses.
Industry | Consumer-reported examples |
|---|---|
Telecommunications | Phone/internet/cable providers |
Financial services | Banks, credit card companies |
Utilities | Hydro/gas/water providers |
Government | Provincial and municipal agencies |
Healthcare | Hospitals and medical providers |
Education | Student loan accounts |
Retail | Stores with unpaid customer accounts |
Commercial | Business-to-business debts |
Note: The industries listed above are based on consumer reports and online discussions. They don't represent confirmed business relationships with C3 Canada.
If someone claims C3 Canada is collecting for a specific company, don't rely on phone information.
Always verify creditor claims in writing and request the creditor's name, account reference and current balance.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Debt collection: know your rights
Companies that use C3 Canada for debt collection
Submitted by consumers. We try to verify these reports but cannot always confirm them.
Know another company C3 Canada collects for?
C3 Canada phone numbers
These numbers are commonly associated with C3 Canada:
| Phone number | Type |
|---|---|
| Main | |
| User Reported | |
| User Reported | |
| User Reported | |
| User Reported |
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 C3 Canada, verify the debt in writing and confirm the details before paying.
Is C3 Canada a legitimate debt collection agency?
Yes, C3 Canada is a legitimate debt collection agency, not a scam.
The company has been operating in Canada since 2006 and publicly lists its corporate address and contact details.
C3 Canada is a member of the Canadian Society of Collection Agencies (CSCA) and the Receivables Management Association of Canada (RMA).
Will C3 Canada affect my credit score?
A collection account from C3 Canada 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 C3 Canada has reported the account and whether the information is correct.
What to do if C3 Canada 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 C3 Canada 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, C3 Canada 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
Your rights when C3 Canada contacts you
Debt collection rules vary by province, but debt collectors are not allowed to:
- Harass, threaten, or intimidate you
- Make false or misleading statements
- Use profane, threatening, or coercive language
- Apply unreasonable or excessive pressure
- Continue contacting you at work after you've told them not to
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Debt collection: know your rights
How to spot a debt collection agency scam
While C3 Canada itself is not a scam, scammers sometimes impersonate legitimate debt collectors.
If you receive a call from a debt collector, ask for details about the debt and verify the information.
Confirm you're dealing with the actual company using contact details from C3 Canada's official website.
Watch for these signs:
- They refuse to name the original creditor
- They threaten arrest, jail, or deportation
- They demand payment by e-transfer, gift card or crypto
- They won't send anything in writing
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) - Dealing with a debt collector
What if the debt is old?
Every province has a time limit on how long a collection agency like C3 Canada 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, C3 Canada 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 C3 Canada
Sometimes, you can stop collection calls from a collection agency by sending a cease and desist letter. Once C3 Canada 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 C3 Canada 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 C3 Canada
In Canada, debt collection is regulated province by province, not federally. The rules ban harassment, calling outside set hours, discussing your debt with your family or employer, and threatening legal action they have no intention of taking.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) – Debt collection: know your rights
If you think C3 Canada is breaking any debt collection or privacy laws, contact the consumer protection authority in your province.
Before making a written complaint, document the dates and times of contact, the phone number used, what was said, and copies of any emails, letters or texts.
Some consumer protection agencies regulating the conduct of collection agencies will not process your complaint unless you first send a written complaint to the collection agency summarizing the conduct in question and making a request for remedial action.
For contact details and links to your provincial office, visit the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Consumer Affairs Offices directory.
Accreditations
C3 Canada locations
Locations that C3 Canada 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
Also known as
A-1 Credit Recovery & Collection Services
Common variations
People sometimes search for this agency under slightly different names or misspellings. These are the most common variations we see.
C3 Canada Collections
Canada C3
FAQs
Is C3 Canada the same as A-1 Credit Recovery?
Yes. C3 Canada Corporation acquired A-1 Credit Recovery & Collection Services Inc. in February 2023.
You may see either name on letters, emails or your credit report. Both refer to the same company.
What if I don't recognize the debt C3 Canada is collecting?
Possible reasons are that you forgot about it, another company sold the debt, it's an old debt resurfacing, it's a mistake, or it's a scam.
Request written verification showing the 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 C3 Canada garnish my wages or freeze my bank account?
Not automatically. To garnish wages or freeze accounts, a creditor generally needs a court judgment first. A phone call from C3 Canada does not mean they have one.
Can C3 Canada contact my family or employer?
Collection agencies can call third parties to locate you, but they generally 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
Is C3 Canada accredited with the BBB?
No. C3 Canada is not BBB accredited.
They hold memberships with the Canadian Society of Collection Agencies (CSCA) and the Receivables Management Association of Canada (RMA).
Should I ignore C3 Canada?
No. Ignoring a collection agency does not make the debt disappear. C3 Canada can continue reporting to credit bureaus, and the creditor could pursue legal action. If you don't believe you owe the money, dispute the debt in writing.
Other collection agencies in Canada
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.