At a glance Credit Bureau Services Canada (CBS Canada) is a division of St. Catharines Credit Corporation Limited. In Quebec, the company operates as Agence de Recouvrement CBSC.
CBS Canada is a collection agency that recovers unpaid debts on behalf of creditors across Canada, with offices in St. Catharines, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec.
If CBS Canada contacts you, ask for written verification of the debt before confirming any personal details or making a payment.
What is Credit Bureau Services Canada?
Credit Bureau Services Canada (CBS Canada) is a collection agency that recovers unpaid debts on behalf of creditors, including municipalities, universities and national retailers.
The company's legal name is St. Catharines Credit Corporation Limited. CBS Canada is headquartered in St. Catharines, Ontario, with a second office in Montreal, Quebec. The agency has been in business since 1932.
CBS Canada is not a credit bureau. Canada's credit bureaus are Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada.
Contact Credit Bureau Services Canada
Contact this debt collection agency to verify details, dispute the debt or resolve your account.
Visit agency websiteWhy is Credit Bureau Services Canada calling me?
If Credit Bureau Services Canada contacts you, it means a creditor has referred an unpaid account to them for collection.
This could be an old debt you've forgotten, an account mistakenly sent to CBS Canada, or a scam that uses their name.
Ask for written proof of the debt before you confirm any personal details or agree to pay.
Who does Credit Bureau Services Canada collect for?
Credit Bureau Services Canada collects debts for a variety of creditors, including municipalities, public institutions, universities, and retailers like Canadian Tire.
CBS Canada's own website describes the agency as working with small, medium and enterprise-sized businesses across Canada.
The client testimonials they collect for universities and national retailers.
Companies that use Credit Bureau Services Canada for debt collection
Reported by consumers
Know another company Credit Bureau Services Canada collects for?
Credit Bureau Services Canada phone numbers
These numbers are commonly associated with Credit Bureau Services Canada:
| Phone number | Type |
|---|---|
| Main | |
| Local Office | |
| Local Office | |
| User Reported | |
| User Reported |
Got a call from a number not shown here?
If you receive a call from a different number claiming to be Credit Bureau Services Canada, verify the debt in writing and confirm the details before paying.
Is Credit Bureau Services Canada legitimate?
St. Catharines Credit Corporation Limited, operating as Credit Bureau Services Canada, has been in business since 1932. As of 2026, CBS Canada has been operating for 93 years.
CBS Canada is a member of the Canadian Society of Collection Agencies and RMA Canada.
Credit Bureau Services Canada has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau but is not BBB-accredited.
The BBB also lists the company under the alternate name St. Catharines Credit Corporation Canada.
Source: BBB – Credit Bureau Services Canada
Some scammers pretend to be collection agencies. If someone claims to represent Credit Bureau Services Canada, ask for written proof of the debt before paying.
Is Credit Bureau Services Canada a licensed collection agency in Ontario?
St. Catharines Credit Corporation Limited, operating as Credit Bureau Services Canada, 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 April 2026.
| Legal Name | Location | Licence number | Status | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Catharines Credit Corporation Limited | St. Catharines, ON | 1951400 | Issued | May 15, 2027 |
Source: Government of Ontario – Search for a business licence (April 2026)
Is Credit Bureau Services Canada a licensed collection agency in Alberta?
St. Catharines Credit Corporation Limited, operating as Credit Bureau Services Canada, 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 April 2026.
| Business Name | Trading As | Location | Bonded | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Catharines Credit Corporation Limited | Credit Bureau Services Canada | — | Yes | Dec 31, 2026 |
Source: Service Alberta – Find out if a Business is Licenced (April 2026)
What to do if Credit Bureau Services Canada 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 Credit Bureau Services Canada 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 like online banking, e-Transfer, or card. 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
Many people contacted by Credit Bureau Services Canada are struggling with multiple debts. A Licensed Insolvency Trustee can reduce what you owe and combine it into a single affordable monthly payment.
Not in Ontario, Alberta, BC, Nunavut or the NWT? Find a trustee in your province
Best if you can still afford your debt but need help managing payments
Best if you can still afford your debt but need help managing payments
Find a counsellorOnly 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 Credit Bureau Services 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, Credit Bureau Services Canada 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 Credit Bureau Services Canada from calling
If you want phone calls to stop, send Credit Bureau Services Canada 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 Credit Bureau Services Canada
If Credit Bureau Services Canada 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).
Accreditations
Credit Bureau Services Canada locations
Locations that Credit Bureau Services 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
CBS Canada
FAQs
Credit Bureau Services Canada can't garnish your wages directly. CBS Canada has to sue you first, win a court judgment and request a garnishment order.
Once a court order is in place, your employer deducts a portion of your income automatically. The amount varies by province, but garnishment rates generally fall between 20% and 50% of your pay.
Yes. CBS Canada reports debts to both Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada. A collection account lowers your credit score and stays on your 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 CBS Canada a lump sum settlement for less than the full amount, or propose a monthly payment plan. Get any agreement in writing before you make a payment. A settlement shows as "settled" rather than "paid in full" on your credit report, but it clears the account.
The debt doesn't go away. CBS Canada can keep contacting you or recommend that the creditor take legal action. CBS Canada has an in-house legal team that handles small claims court cases. If a court issues a judgment, the creditor can apply a wage garnishment or freeze your bank account.
No. Credit Bureau Services Canada is a collection agency. It collects unpaid debts on behalf of other companies. Canada's two credit bureaus are Equifax and TransUnion. Despite the similar name, CBS Canada has no connection to either credit bureau.
No. Credit Bureau Services Canada and Credit Bureau of Canada Collections are separate companies.
CBS Canada is owned by St. Catharines Credit Corporation Limited. Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is owned by CollectCents Inc.
The similar names cause confusion, but they are not related.
Send CBS Canada a written notice by registered mail or email stating that you dispute the debt and want the matter taken to court. Once they receive that notice, they can't continue contacting you without your consent. Keep a copy of everything you send.
Yes. CBS Canada has in-house paralegals and a legal team that handles small claims and Superior Court cases.
If you don't respond to collection attempts, the creditor can instruct CBS Canada to start 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.
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.