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: licensing@gov.pe.ca
Published date:
July 21, 2017