What is Unik Credit Management (UCM)?
Unik Credit Management (UCM) is a debt collection agency that helps businesses recover unpaid debts. They have been operating since 1975 and offer collection services in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.
UCM collects debts for a variety of clients, including commercial businesses, government agencies, healthcare providers, and financial institutions.
Many consumers report that UCM is knowledgeable about legal processes and has a strong recovery rate. They are known to use legal action when necessary to collect debts.
Why is Unik Credit Management (UCM) calling me?
If you’ve received a call from Unik Credit Management (UCM), it usually means they’re trying to recover an unpaid debt on behalf of a creditor.
If you’re unsure why they’re calling, ask for written verification of the debt before sharing any personal information or making a payment.
Unik Credit Management (UCM) collects for:
- Telecommunications companies (phone, internet, cable)
- Banks and financial institutions
- Government agencies
- Healthcare providers and hospitals
- Utilities (hydro, gas, water)
- Education and student loans
- Commercial businesses
- Credit card companies
- Retail stores
Know a company Unik Credit Management (UCM) collects for?
Is Unik Credit Management (UCM) a legitimate collection agency?
Yes, Unik Credit Management (UCM) is a legitimate debt collection agency established in 1975. They are licensed and bonded and operate under provincial regulations.
Will Unik Credit Management (UCM) affect my credit score?
A collection account from Unik Credit Management (UCM) 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 Unik Credit Management (UCM) calls you (step by step)
What if the debt is old?
Every province has a time limit on how long a collection agency like Unik Credit Management (UCM) 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, Unik Credit Management (UCM) 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 Unik Credit Management (UCM)
Sometimes, you can stop collection calls from a collection agency by sending a cease and desist letter. Once Unik Credit Management (UCM) 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 Unik Credit Management (UCM) 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 Unik Credit Management (UCM)
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 Unik Credit Management (UCM) 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.
