What is Total Credit Recovery?
Total Credit Recovery Limited (TCR) is a national debt collection agency that collects debts on behalf of creditors you owe money to.
Total Credit Recovery was founded in 1980 in Toronto and claims to be the largest 100% Canadian-owned collection agency.
Total Credit Recovery has offices in Toronto (head office), Laval, Mission (BC) and Edmonton.
Source: Total Credit Recovery – About
Why is Total Credit Recovery calling me?
If you've received a call, voicemail, text, email or letter from Total Credit Recovery, the agency believes you have an outstanding account with a creditor it represents.
Sometimes the debt is legitimate. Sometimes it's an old account, a mistake, a debt you don't recognize or a scam attempt using a real company name.
Always request written verification before confirming any debt or making a payment.
Source: Government of Canada (FCAC) – Dealing with a debt collector
Total Credit Recovery phone numbers
We called each of these numbers to confirm it reaches Total Credit Recovery. Select a number to see call reports and what to do if they contact you.
| Phone number | Type |
|---|---|
| Main | |
| Local Office | |
| Local Office | |
| Local Office | |
| Local Office |
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 Total Credit Recovery, verify the debt in writing and confirm the details before paying.
Who does Total Credit Recovery collect for?
Total Credit Recovery collects debts across multiple sectors, including banks, telecommunications companies, government agencies and commercial businesses.
Consumer reports link Total Credit Recovery to 12 creditors, most often in banking, telecom and home security.
| Industry | Consumer-reported creditors |
|---|---|
| Telecommunications | |
| Banking & Financial Services | |
| Retail | |
| Home Security |
Know another company Total Credit Recovery collects for?
Treat all creditor claims as unconfirmed until you receive written verification tied to your specific account.
Is Total Credit Recovery a legitimate collection agency?
Yes. Total Credit Recovery Limited is a legitimate debt collection agency that's been in business since 1980. Total Credit Recovery publicly lists its corporate address and contact details.
Total Credit Recovery is a member of ACA International and the Receivables Management Association of Canada.
Will Total Credit Recovery affect my credit score?
A collection account from Total Credit Recovery 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 Total Credit Recovery calls you (step by step)
What if the debt is old?
Every province has a time limit on how long a collection agency like Total Credit Recovery 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, Total Credit Recovery 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 Total Credit Recovery
Sometimes, you can stop collection calls from a collection agency by sending a cease and desist letter. Once Total Credit Recovery 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 Total Credit Recovery 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 Total Credit Recovery
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 Total Credit Recovery 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.
Has Total Credit Recovery had regulatory actions?
Service Alberta issued a $500 administrative penalty to Total Credit Recovery (ALB) Limited in July 2024 for contravening the Collection and Debt Repayment Practices Regulation.
Source: Open Alberta – Notice of Administrative Penalty: Total Credit Recovery (ALB) Limited
Accreditations
Legal Name
Total Credit Recovery Limited
People sometimes search for this agency under slightly different names or misspellings. These are the most common variations we see.
TCR Collection Agency
Total Credit Recovery Company