What is PRA Group Canada?
PRA Group Canada Inc. is a debt buyer and collection agency. A regular collection agency chases debts on behalf of a creditor and earns a commission. PRA Group Canada works differently.
It buys unpaid debts outright from banks, credit card companies, and other lenders at a discount. Once PRA Group Canada owns the debt, it contacts you to arrange repayment.
PRA Group Canada is a subsidiary of PRA Group, Inc., a US-based company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange (PRAA).
Why is PRA Group Canada calling me?
PRA Group Canada is calling because it bought your debt from the original creditor. The original creditor gave up on collecting the account and sold it.
PRA Group Canada also uses other collection agencies to contact people on its behalf. These sub-agents are:
- Action Collections & Receivables Management
- Affinity Credit Solutions
- Debt Control Agency Inc
- Phillips & Cohen Associates (Canada) Ltd.
- TPH Legal Services
- Veritas Alliance Inc.
If any of those companies contact you about a PRA Group account, the same rules apply.
Source: PRA Group Canada
Don't confirm anything over the phone. Ask for written verification first. PRA Group Canada will ask you to verify your identity before discussing the account, but you aren't required to do that over the phone.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) – Dealing with a debt collector
PRA Group Canada phone numbers
We called each of these numbers to confirm it reaches PRA Group Canada. Select a number to see call reports and what to do if they contact you.
| Phone number | Type |
|---|---|
| Main | |
| Local Office | |
| Local Office | |
| User Reported | |
| User Reported |
Some numbers are submitted by users. We call to verify each one and recheck periodically, but numbers can change.
If you receive a call from a different number claiming to be PRA Group Canada, verify the debt in writing and confirm the details before paying.
Who does PRA Group Canada collect for?
PRA Group Canada buys defaulted consumer debts. It doesn't collect on behalf of a creditor. It owns the debt. The original creditors are typically banks, credit card issuers, telecommunications companies and consumer lenders.
Consumer reports link PRA Group Canada to nine creditors, most often in banking, telecom and education.
| Industry | Consumer-reported creditors |
|---|---|
| Telecommunications | |
| Banking & Financial Services | |
| Government & Municipal | |
| Education & Student Loans |
Know another company PRA Group Canada collects for?
Because PRA Group Canada buys debt portfolios, the original creditor on your account depends on which portfolio PRA Group Canada purchased.
Is PRA Group Canada legitimate?
Yes. PRA Group Canada Inc. is a legitimate debt buyer and collection agency.
PRA Group Canada is a member of the Canadian Society of Collection Agencies (CSCA), the Credit Association of Greater Toronto, and the Receivables Management Association of Canada (RMA).
Will PRA Group Canada affect my credit score?
A collection account from PRA Group 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
What to do if PRA Group Canada calls you (step by step)
Your rights when CBV Collections contacts you
Debt collection rules vary by province, but consumer protection legislation across Canada prohibits debt collectors from harassing, threatening, or intimidating you.
They cannot make false or misleading statements, use profane or coercive language, or apply unreasonable pressure. They cannot continue contacting you at work after you've told them not to.
Every time a debt collector contacts you, they must identify themselves.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) – Debt collection: know your rights
Red flags: how to spot a scam
Scammers sometimes impersonate debt collectors, including real companies like CBV.
A scammer typically refuses to name the original creditor, threatens arrest, jail, or deportation, demands payment by e-transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency, and refuses to send anything in writing.
Verify the debt using contact details from the official website before paying.
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 PRA Group Canada 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, PRA Group 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 PRA Group Canada
Sometimes, you can stop collection calls from a collection agency by sending a cease and desist letter. Once PRA Group 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 PRA Group 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 PRA Group 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 PRA Group 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
Legal Name
PRA Group Canada Inc.
Preferred Credit Resources Limited (merger)
CCL Financial Inc. (merger)
Aktiv Kapital Canada Ltd.
People sometimes search for this agency under slightly different names or misspellings. These are the most common variations we see.
PRA
PRA Canada
Groupe PRA Canada