At a glance Canada Legal Referral is a collection agency and commercial credit reporting company headquartered in Concord, Ontario.
The full legal name is Canada Legal Referral Inc., also known as Canlegal. It operates as Référence Légale-Canada Ltée in Quebec. The company has been in business since 1995.
If Canada Legal Referral contacts you, don't confirm any personal details or make a payment until you have written verification of the debt.
What is Canada Legal Referral?
Canada Legal Referral (Canlegal) is a collection agency and commercial credit reporting company that recovers unpaid debts and provides credit risk assessments for businesses across Canada.
The company's full legal name is Canada Legal Referral Inc. Canlegal is headquartered in Concord, Ontario, with a second office in Montreal, Quebec. The company has been in business since 1995.
Source: Canlegal – About
Contact Canada Legal Referral
Contact this debt collection agency to verify details, dispute the debt, or resolve your account.
Visit agency websiteWhy is Canada Legal Referral calling me?
If Canada Legal Referral is calling, a creditor has sent your unpaid account to them for collection.
The call could also be about an old debt you've forgotten, an account referred to Canlegal by mistake, or a scam using their name.
Canada Legal Referral also operates as a commercial credit reporting agency. Not every contact from them is about personal debt collection.
Don't confirm any personal details or agree to pay until you have written proof of the debt.
Who does Canada Legal Referral collect for?
Canada Legal Referral collects debts for businesses of all sizes across Canada. Canlegal focuses on commercial debt collection and business-to-business accounts.
The company also provides commercial credit reporting through the Canlegal Risk Score, which pulls data from government registries, financial institutions, court records, and the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy.
If you don't recognize the creditor name on a collection letter or call, pull your credit report from Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada. It shows which creditor placed the account in collections.
Know a company Canada Legal Referral collects for?
Canada Legal Referral phone numbers
These numbers are commonly associated with Canada Legal Referral:
| Phone number | Type |
|---|---|
| Main |
Got a call from a number not shown here?
If you receive a call from a different number claiming to be Canada Legal Referral, verify the debt in writing and confirm the details before paying.
Is Canada Legal Referral legitimate?
Canada Legal Referral Inc. is a legitimate collection agency which has operated since 1995.
Canada Legal Referral has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB opened its file on Canada Legal Referral in October 2022. Canlegal is not BBB accredited.
An F rating doesn't mean the company is a scam. It means the BBB received complaints and the company didn't respond.
If someone claims to be from Canada Legal Referral, verify the debt in writing before paying anything.
Source: BBB – Canada Legal Referral
Is Canada Legal Referral a licensed collection agency in Ontario?
Canada Legal Referral 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Legal Referral Inc. | Concord, ON | 4381778 | Issued | Jul 27, 2027 |
Source: Government of Ontario – Search for a business licence (March 2026)
Is Canada Legal Referral a licensed collection agency in British Columbia?
We couldn't find a licence. Canlegal doesn't appear in the Consumer Protection BC registry under any name.
Source: Consumer Protection BC – Check a licence
What to do if Canada Legal Referral 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 Canada Legal Referral 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 Canada Legal Referral 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 Canada Legal Referral 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, Canada Legal Referral 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 Canada Legal Referral from calling
If you want phone calls to stop, send Canada Legal Referral 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
How to file a complaint about Canada Legal Referral
If Canada Legal Referral doesn't follow the 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.
For contact details and links to your provincial office, visit the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Consumer Affairs Offices directory.
You can also file a complaint through the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Canada Legal Referral locations
Locations that Canada Legal Referral 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
Canada Legal Referral Inc.
Also known as
Canlegal
Référence Légale-Canada Ltée.
American Legal Referral
FAQs
Canada Legal Referral can't take money from your pay directly. The company has to sue you first, win a court judgment, and then request a garnishment order.
Once a court order is in place, your employer deducts a portion of your income. The percentage varies by province.
A collection account from Canada Legal Referral lowers your credit score if it's reported to Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada.
Collections typically stay on your credit report for six years from the date of last activity. Paying the debt changes the status to paid but doesn't remove it early.
You can offer Canlegal a lump sum for less than the full amount or propose a monthly payment plan. Get any deal in writing before you pay.
A settlement shows as "settled" rather than "paid in full" on your credit report, but it clears the account.
The debt doesn't disappear. Canada Legal Referral can keep contacting you or recommend that the creditor take legal action.
If a court issues a judgment against you, the creditor can garnish your wages or freeze your bank account.
No. The name is misleading. Canada Legal Referral is a collection agency and commercial credit reporting company, not a law firm.
The company doesn't provide legal advice or legal representation. It collects debts and produces commercial credit reports.
Yes. If you don't respond to collection attempts, the creditor can instruct Canada Legal Referral to recommend legal proceedings. A court judgment can lead to wage garnishment or a bank account freeze.
If a collection agency is breaking the rules, file a complaint with your province's consumer protection office.
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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.