Where ComplaintCA Fits
ComplaintCA can draft a written "contact my lawyer only" or "cease contact at my workplace" letter, and the formal complaint to your provincial regulator, with the dates and details investigators typically ask for.
Frequently Asked
What are debt collectors not allowed to do?
Generally: call very early or late, contact your workplace after being told not to, threaten action they won't take, use abusive language, or tell others about your debt.
Who regulates collection agencies in Ontario?
Consumer Protection Ontario, under the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act.
Can I tell a collector to stop contacting me?
Yes, in writing — most provinces require them to only contact you by mail or through a lawyer after that, though the debt itself doesn't disappear.
What if it's my bank's own collections department?
Raise it with the bank directly, then the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada if unresolved — FCAC supervises compliance rather than resolving individual cases.
How do I know if a collector is licensed?
Ask for their agency name and licence number and check your province's collection agency registry before giving any information.
How do I deal with a collection agency?
Ask for the agency's name and licence number and check it with your province's regulator before sharing any information. Keep a log of every call. If they break the rules — calling at unreasonable hours, contacting your workplace after you've asked them not to, or threatening you — tell them in writing to contact you only by mail or through your lawyer, and file a complaint with your provincial regulator.
What is ComplaintCA?
A Canadian civic platform that identifies the correct authority for a complaint, drafts it with AI in 7 languages, and helps track it through to resolution.
I'm Deaf or hard of hearing — how do I call a phone-only authority?
Use Canada VRS (free sign-language video relay, available 24/7) or dial 711 for a text-based relay operator — both let you place a real phone call to any number listed on this page.
Sources & Verification
This guide is maintained by ComplaintCA and checked against the official sources linked throughout, including:
Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.
Related Guides
