At a glance UPLevel is a Canadian collection agency based in Ontario.
The legal name behind the collection business is Credit Risk Management Canada Ltd. The company also operates under the names Credit Risk Management, Credit Bureau of Stratford and the UPLevel & CRM Group of Companies. They have been in operation since 1970.
If UPLevel contacts you, don't confirm any personal details or make a payment until you have written verification of the debt.
What is UPLevel?
UPLevel is a Canadian collection agency based in Stratford, Ontario. The legal entity is Credit Risk Management Canada Ltd. The business has been operating since 1970.
When a creditor hires UPLevel, the company contacts you by phone, letter or email to collect the debt.
The same group also runs a commercial credit reporting business as Uplevel Credit Bureau Solutions, which trades as Credit Bureau of Stratford (1970) Ltd. That side serves businesses, not consumers.
Contact UPLevel
1-800-267-0490
Contact this debt collection agency to verify details, dispute the debt or resolve your account.
Visit agency websiteWhy is UPLevel calling me?
If UPLevel is calling, a creditor has referred your unpaid account to them for collection.
Don't confirm any personal details or agree to pay until you have written proof that you owe the debt. There's always a chance it's an account sent to UPLevel by mistake.
If you owe the debt, pay it off as soon as possible to avoid it being reported as a collection on your credit report.
Who does UPLevel collect for?
UPLevel collects for businesses, financial institutions and credit unions across Canada. The company handles both consumer and commercial accounts.
If you don't recognize the creditor name on a UPLevel letter or call, pull your credit report from Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada. It shows which creditor placed the account in collections.
Companies that use UPLevel for debt collection
Submitted by consumers. We try to verify these reports but cannot always confirm them.
Know another company UPLevel collects for?
UPLevel phone numbers
These numbers are commonly associated with UPLevel:
| Phone number | Type |
|---|---|
| Main |
Some numbers are submitted by users. We call to verify each one and recheck periodically, but numbers can change.
Got a call from a number not shown here?
If you receive a call from a different number claiming to be UPLevel, verify the debt in writing and confirm the details before paying.
Is UPLevel legitimate?
UPLevel is a legitimate collection agency. The business has operated under the Credit Risk Management and Credit Bureau of Stratford names since 1970.
Keep in mind that some scammers pose as collection agencies. Always ask for written proof before you pay anything.
Will UPLevel affect my credit score?
A collection account from UPLevel 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
Check your own report to see whether UPLevel has reported the account and whether the information is correct.
What to do if UPLevel calls you (step by step)
Step 1: Ask for written verification. Get the original creditor's name, amount, account number and the date of last activity. Don't confirm anything until you've reviewed it 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 credit report to see what UPLevel has reported about you. Get your free credit score and report with Borrowell.
Step 4: Dispute the debt in writing if it's wrong. Keep copies of everything you send.
Step 5: Check the statute of limitations in your province before you pay or acknowledge the debt in writing.
Step 6: Settle if the debt is correct. Sometimes, UPLevel might accept a one-time lump sum for less than the full balance. Get any agreement in writing before you pay.
Step 7: Pay by a traceable method like online banking, e-Transfer, or card. Get a receipt.
Step 8: Get help if you can't pay. Talk to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee or non-profit credit counsellor.
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
What if the debt is old?
Every province has a time limit on how long a collection agency like UPLevel can sue you for an unpaid debt. In most provinces the limit is 2 years from your last payment or written acknowledgment of the debt. It's 3 years in Quebec and 6 years in the territories, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
| 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, UPLevel 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.
Does a debt with UPLevel affect my credit score?
A collection account from UPLevel lowers your credit score if it's reported to Equifax or TransUnion.
Collections typically stay on your credit report for six years from the date of last activity. Paying the debt changes the status to paid, but doesn't remove it early.
How to stop calls from UPLevel
Send UPLevel a cease and desist letter. Once they receive it, they have to stop phoning. The debt doesn't go away, and they can still take legal action.
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.
However, if the debt's on a loan, line of credit, or credit card, send the letter by registered mail under federal law. If UPLevel is physically based in Ontario, use Ontario's law instead.
Read more: How to stop collection calls in Canada.
How to file a complaint about UPLevel
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 that UPLevel is breaking any 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.
UPLevel locations
Locations that UPLevel 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
Credit Risk Management Canada Ltd.
Also known as
UPLevel & CRM Group of Companies
UPLevel PPSA Solutions
Common variations
People sometimes search for this agency under slightly different names or misspellings. These are the most common variations we see.
Credit Risk Management
Credit Risk Management Canada
Credit Bureau of Stratford
FAQs
UPLevel can't take money from your pay directly. The company has to sue you first, win a court judgment, and then request a garnishment order.
Once a court order is in place, your employer deducts a portion of your income. The percentage varies by province.
You can offer UPLevel a lump sum for less than the full amount or propose a monthly payment plan. Get any deal in writing before you pay.
A settlement shows as "settled" rather than "paid in full" on your credit report, but it clears the account.
The debt doesn't disappear. UPLevel can keep contacting you or recommend that the creditor take legal action.
If a court issues a judgment against you, the creditor can garnish your wages or freeze your bank account.
The same parent group runs a separate commercial credit reporting service called Uplevel Credit Bureau Solutions. That arm trades as Credit Bureau of Stratford (1970) Ltd and assesses business credit risk for clients.
It's not a consumer credit bureau. Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada hold your consumer credit file.
Yes. If you don't respond to collection attempts, the creditor can instruct UPLevel to recommend legal action. With a judgment, the creditor can garnish your wages or freeze your bank account.
UPLevel is the public brand for the UPLevel & CRM Group of Companies. The collection agency is licensed under the legal name Credit Risk Management Canada Ltd.
You may also see the names Credit Risk Management, Credit Bureau of Stratford or Uplevel Credit Bureau Solutions on letters and calls.
Other collection agencies in Canada
Joe launched CollectionAgencies.ca in 2025. He has worked in Canadian personal finance since 2023. 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.