At a glance Phillips & Cohen Associates (PCA) is a specialty collection agency focused on deceased account recovery. PCA collects estate debts on behalf of major creditors in banking, utilities and credit cards.
The Canadian entity, Phillips & Cohen Associates (Canada) Ltd., is based in Kirkland, Quebec, with the US parent and international offices in the UK, Australia and Germany.
If PCA contacts you, don't confirm any personal details or make a payment until you have written verification of the debt.
What is Phillips & Cohen Associates?
Phillips & Cohen Associates (PCA), also written as Phillips and Cohen, is a specialty collection agency that recovers debts from the estates of deceased account holders.
The name sounds like a law firm, but Phillips & Cohen Associates is not one. It's a collection agency that employs in-house attorneys for estate work.
The Canadian entity is Phillips & Cohen Associates (Canada) Ltd., based at 16766 Transcanada Highway, Suite 402, Kirkland, Quebec. The parent company was founded in 1997 and pioneered the deceased account recovery niche.
Contact Phillips & Cohen Associates
Contact this debt collection agency to verify details, dispute the debt or resolve your account.
Visit agency websiteWhy is Phillips & Cohen Associates calling me?
If Phillips & Cohen Associates is calling, it's most likely about a debt owed by someone who has died. Phillips & Cohen Associates specializes in deceased account recovery.
Contact from them is usually linked to an estate, not your own personal debt. The call could also be a scam or a mistake.
If they are calling, you might be the executor of the estate. You could also be a surviving spouse, an adult child, or another family member listed as a contact.
Don't confirm any personal details or agree to pay until you have written proof of the debt.
Who does Phillips & Cohen Associates collect for?
Phillips & Cohen Associates collects for over major creditors worldwide. Their clients include banks, credit card companies, utility providers, telecom companies and government agencies.
In Canada, Phillips & Cohen Associates focuses mainly on deceased account recovery. The Kirkland, Quebec office handles estate debts referred by Canadian creditors and by other collection agencies that don't specialize in deceased accounts.
The company's main services are deceased account recovery and probate. Phillips & Cohen Associates also handles credit card collections, consumer retail debt, and cease-and-desist cases.
If you don't recognize the creditor name on a 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 Phillips & Cohen Associates collects for?
Phillips & Cohen Associates phone numbers
These numbers are commonly associated with Phillips & Cohen Associates:
| 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 Phillips & Cohen Associates, verify the debt in writing and confirm the details before paying.
Is Phillips & Cohen Associates legitimate?
Phillips & Cohen Associates (Canada) Ltd. is a legitimate collection agency. The parent company was founded in 1997 and has offices in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and Germany.
As of April 2026, the US parent company holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The parent has been BBB accredited since 2015. However, be aware that the rating applies to the US corporate entity, not the Canadian subsidiary.
Source: BBB – Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd.
If someone claims to be from Phillips & Cohen Associates, verify the debt in writing before paying anything or sharing information about the estate.
Is Phillips & Cohen Associates a licensed collection agency in Ontario?
Phillips & Cohen Associates (Canada) Ltd., operating as Phillips & Cohen Associates, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips & Cohen Associates (Canada) Ltd. | Markham, ON | 4706725 | Issued | Sep 22, 2026 |
Source: Government of Ontario – Search for a business licence (April 2026)
Is Phillips & Cohen Associates a licensed collection agency in Alberta?
Phillips & Cohen Associates (canada), Ltd., operating as Phillips & Cohen Associates, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips & Cohen Associates (canada), Ltd. | Ardent Credit Services | Calgary, AB | Yes | Jul 31, 2026 |
Source: Service Alberta – Find out if a Business is Licenced (April 2026)
Is Phillips & Cohen Associates a licensed collection agency in Quebec?
Phillips & Cohen Associates (canada) Ltd., operating as Phillips & Cohen Associates, is registered in Québec as a collection agency and operates under the Consumer Protection Act, with oversight from the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC). The table below shows the confirmed licence record as of April 2026.
| Legal Name | Location | Permit number |
|---|---|---|
| Phillips & Cohen Associates (canada) Ltd. | Kirkland, QC | 400387 |
Source: Office de la protection du consommateur (April 2026)
What to do if Phillips & Cohen Associates 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 Phillips & Cohen Associates 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
Not in Ontario, Alberta, BC, Nunavut or the NWT? Find a trustee in your province
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 Phillips & Cohen Associates 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, Phillips & Cohen Associates 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 Phillips & Cohen Associates from calling
If you want phone calls to stop, send Phillips & Cohen Associates 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 Phillips & Cohen Associates
If Phillips & Cohen Associates 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
Phillips & Cohen Associates locations
Locations that Phillips & Cohen Associates 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
Phillips & Cohen Associates (Canada) Ltd.
Also known as
Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd
FAQs
No. Debt is not inherited in Canada. You're not personally responsible for a deceased family member's debts.
The exception is if you co-signed the original loan or were a joint account holder. The estate pays the debts, not the individual relatives.
Source: Hoyes Michalos – What Happens to Debt When You Die in Canada
No. If the estate has no assets, there is nothing to collect. Phillips & Cohen Associates can request payment. But the creditors only have a claim against whatever assets the estate actually holds.
Once those assets are gone, the remaining debts are uncollectible.
Send a written dispute notice by registered mail or email. State that the matter should be taken to court if they want to pursue the claim.
Include a copy of the death certificate if the company doesn't already have one, and keep records of everything you send.
No. The name follows a law firm partnership naming pattern, but Phillips & Cohen Associates is a collection agency.
The company employs in-house attorneys for estate work. It doesn't provide legal advice or legal representation to consumers.
Phillips & Cohen Associates can't take money from your pay directly. The company has to sue first, win a court judgment, and then request a garnishment order.
Because most of their work involves estate debts, wage garnishment of surviving family members is unusual. They can only garnish if you personally owe the debt and a court has ordered it.
No. Your credit score is separate from your deceased relative's credit file. A debt owed by the estate doesn't show up on the surviving family members' credit reports.
The exception is if you were a joint account holder or a co-signer on the original debt.
Send Phillips & Cohen Associates a written notice by registered mail or email. State that you dispute the debt and want further communication in writing or through the courts only. Keep a copy. Once they receive the notice, they can't keep calling you without your consent.
Only if you personally owe the debt. Not if the debt belongs to a deceased relative's estate. For estate debts, any lawsuit would be against the estate itself. It's filed against the executor in their role as estate administrator, not against the executor personally.
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.