What is Partners in Credit?
Partners in Credit Inc. is a debt collection agency that helps businesses recover outstanding accounts and unpaid debts.
It also provides outsourcing, skip tracing, commercial collections and estate processing services.
Partners in Credit is headquartered in Thornhill, Ontario, with a second office in Montréal, Québec.
Why is Partners in Credit calling me?
A call, letter, text message, email or voicemail from Partners in Credit means a creditor has placed your account with them for collection.
Sometimes the debt is yours. But sometimes it's old, already paid, or belongs to someone else entirely.
Don't confirm anything over the phone. Ask for written verification first through Partners in Credit's official website.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) – Dealing with a debt collector
Who does Partners in Credit collect for?
Partners in Credit serves a wide range of clients such as telecommunications firms, banks, and government agencies.
Consumer reports link Partners in Credit Inc to ten creditors, most often in banking, telecom and utilities.
| Industry | Consumer-reported creditors |
|---|---|
| Telecommunications | |
| Banking & Financial Services | |
| Utilities | |
| Government & Municipal | |
| Tolls | |
| Retail |
Know another company Partners in Credit Inc collects for?
The City of Toronto officially lists Partners in Credit as a contracted collection agency for unpaid provincial offence fines.
Is Partners in Credit a legitimate collection agency?
Yes. Partners in Credit Inc. is a legitimate debt collection agency that has been operating nationally since 1988. The BBB lists the business as started in 1977, which is likely the company's incorporation date.
Partners in Credit is headquartered in Thornhill, Ontario, and publicly lists its address and phone numbers.
Partners in Credit is not BBB accredited. It is a member of the Canadian Society of Collection Agencies (CSCA).
Will Partners in Credit Inc affect my credit score?
A collection account from Partners in Credit 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
What to do if Partners in Credit Inc calls you (step by step)
What if the debt is old?
Every province has a time limit on how long a collection agency like Partners in Credit Inc can sue you for an unpaid debt.
Ontario, BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
Quebec
Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon
Once the limitation period expires, Partners in Credit 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 Partners in Credit Inc
Sometimes, you can stop collection calls from a collection agency by sending a cease and desist letter. Once Partners in Credit 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 Partners in Credit 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.
How to file a complaint about Partners in Credit Inc
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 Partners in Credit Inc 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.
