Editorial Standards

CollectionAgencies.ca serves as an independent information source. It is not a law firm or a financial advisory service, and no one on this site offers legal or financial advice.

The site serves two main purposes: to help you determine if a collection agency contacting you is genuine, and to explain your rights clearly.

Where our information comes from

Every collection agency listing includes provincial licensing information. These public records, maintained by the provincial government, indicate whether a collection agency is legally authorized to operate in that province..

We pull licensing data from the major provinces. This includes the licence number, the provinces where the agency is authorized to collect, and the registered business name.

From there, we cross-reference publicly available sources, including company registrations, Better Business Bureau profiles, court filings, consumer complaints published by provincial regulators, and the collection agency's own website.

We verify contact details against multiple sources before they go live.

Legal information on this site is drawn from provincial and federal legislation, government consumer protection pages, and regulatory bodies.

Primary sources include the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Equifax, TransUnion, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Alberta and other provincial consumer affairs offices and government sources.

Where possible, we aim to cite sources issued by a government body, a regulator, or a statute.

How listings are built

Every agency listing follows the same structure, including the agency name, company information, registered business name, licence numbers, provinces of operation, contact details, known creditor clients, and consumer feedback.

No listing is prioritized, promoted, or ranked based on any commercial relationship.

How listings are updated

Consumer submissions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. When a provincial regulator publishes new licensing data, we update affected listings to reflect the change.

Consumer submissions

Consumer submissions fill in the gaps that official records don't cover.

When someone reports a call or letter from a collection agency, we review the submission before publication. We call to verify each one and recheck periodically. We evaluate creditor submissions based on how many individuals submit them.

We don't let unverified claims go live without making checks. We verify what we can against licensing records and public data.

What agencies can and can't control

Agencies can't change their description, ranking, or position in search results. They can't remove or edit consumer feedback displayed on their page.

No agency can pay to influence editorial content on this site.

What we check

Every article on this site undergoes a fact-checking process before publication. We trace statistical claims back to their sources. We verify legal claims against current legislation. We conduct a final audit to confirm accuracy.

If a stat is more than two years old, we look for a newer one. If we can't verify a claim with a primary source, we don't publish it.

Collection law varies by province. We don't make blanket statements about Canadian rules when Ontario and Alberta differ. When a rule applies to a specific province, we say so.

What we don't do

This site doesn't provide legal advice. Debt collection laws vary by province, and your situation has complexities a website can't account for. We explain the rules. We don't tell you how to apply them to your specific case.

If you have been sued over a debt, seek advice from a legal professional with civil litigation experience in your area.

We don't provide financial advice. We don't recommend debt repayment strategies, nor do we advise whether to pay a debt or dispute it. That's a decision for you and, if needed, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee or a lawyer.

We don't represent collection agencies or act on creditors' behalf.

When to talk to a professional

If a collection agency is threatening legal action, consult a lawyer, a non-profit credit counselling service, or a Licensed Insolvency Trustee.

If you owe more than you can repay, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee can guide you through your options.

If you're unsure whether you owe a debt, get written verification from the collection agency and speak to a professional before paying anything.

Editorial independence

CollectionAgencies.ca doesn't accept payment from collection agencies for advertising, sponsored content, or preferential placement.

Authors and opinions

When content is attributed to a named author or reviewer, it reflects their professional expertise and personal views. It does not represent the official position of CollectionAgencies.ca.

How this site earns money

This site earns money through affiliate links. If you click a link to a product or service and sign up, we may earn a commission.

These partnerships are clearly identified. They don't affect how agencies are described, ranked or presented. Editorial content and affiliate relationships are completely separate.

Corrections

If something on this site is incorrect, we want to know. Licensing data changes. Laws are updated. Agencies move or close. If you spot an error, email us, and we'll fix it.