Collection Agencies - Rights and Responsibilities of Consumers

Although businesses usually try to collect their unpaid bills themselves, if they are unable to do so they may turn your account over to a collection agency. All collection agencies who collect debt from people in Prince Edward Island have to be licensed by the Consumer Services Section. 

A collector may not:

•  collect or attempt to collect money without first being satisfied that you owe the money to the creditor
•  telephone, visit or send mail to your place of employment
•  collect more than you owe the creditor
•  contact you after the hours of 9:00 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. or on a Sunday
•  pretend to be someone else or use forms not filed with the registrar
•  make collect telephone calls to you or charge you for telephone calls, telegrams or mail costs
•  threaten you with action outside the authority of the collection agency
•  make such frequent contacts as to constitute harassment
•  contact other people including your employer, family, friends or neighbours except to obtain your address
•  include your spouse in collection or court actions unless your spouse has also signed for the debt
•  use coercive language, cite loss of employment or loss of community ranking or give false information to anyone that could cause you or your family problems at work
• contact you after receiving written notice to communicate through your legal counsel

Who can I contact for more information?

Consumer, Corporate and Financial Services
Shaw Building, 4th Floor
95 Rochford Street
P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE  C1A 7N8
​Telephone:  (902) 368-4550
Fax:  (902) 368-5283
Email:  ccs@gov.pe.ca