Are you getting debt collection calls? Under BC law, you have the right to ask the collection agency to contact you in writing or through your lawyer only. Here’s what you need to know.
Your debt collection rights in BC
You have the right to request that debt collection calls stop – when you do this, you’re telling the debt collector you would like to be contacting in writing only (or through your lawyer).
How to get debt collection calls to stop
To get the calls to stop, you must notify the collection agency of your request. Send your written notification in a way that gives you proof of delivery (mail, fax, or email). Keep copies for your record and give the collection agency three to five business days to process your request.
- Request communication in writing only:
- Printable PDF form
- Online form (to use this form you must have the collection agency’s email).
- Request communication through your lawyer only:
- Printable PDF form
- Online form (to use this form you must have the collection agency’s email).
What if the debt collector keeps calling you?
If the calls continue after a few business days, keep track of the incoming calls. You can do that by getting copies of your phone records, taking pictures of your call display or other methods. Once you’ve done that, please submit a complaint to us directly so we can assess the situation.
An important reminder
It’s important to remember that debt collectors are allowed to contact you about the debts you owe – and just because the calls have stopped does not mean the debt has gone away. If the debt is left unpaid, your debt load may become bigger once interest charges begin to build up. An unpaid debt may also affect your credit rating and make any future financing difficult.
Where to go for more information
We know dealing with debt can be stressful, especially if you’re getting collection calls. In BC, you have rights when it comes to debt collection. The law speaks to when a collector can contact you and how they can communicate with you. Learn more about your rights for debt collection in BC.
Financial advice isn’t something we can help you with directly but there are other options to consider. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada has tons of information about how to manage your debt and the different resources available.
You may also be interested in speaking to your financial institution or a financial advisor to see if they can offer you personalized advice on your financial situation.
About Consumer Protection BC
We’re a not-for-profit provincial regulator. We are responsible for licensing debt collectors and regulating certain aspects of the debt collection industry in BC. The laws we oversee capture your rights when it comes to credit reporting, debt collection, payday loans, high-cost loans, and certain aspects of debt repayment services. Find out more about us and the other industries and transactions we oversee by exploring our website.
Learn more about your rights when it comes to debt and borrowing.
More debt and borrowing resources
Managing debt
How to make a plan to manage your debt
Comparing different debt relief options
The impact of debt on your credit report
How to improve your credit score
How to build healthy financial habits
Debt collection
How to stop collection calls
What to do if it’s not your debt
The rules debt collectors must follow in BC
How to dispute a debt
Borrowing wisely
Things to think about before you take out a loan
Understanding the cost of your loan
The rules for payday lenders in BC
The risks of borrowing money from unlicensed lenders
Buy now, pay later plans: what you need to know
Tell us what you think for a chance to win!
The information above is part of a consumer education initiative on debt and borrowing in BC and we want your input!
By completing the survey, you will be entered to win one of two $300 prizes and you’ll support consumer education in the province. Your feedback will help us fine-tune our educational resources so we can continually improve and help more people make informed debt choices in BC.
The debt collectors have taken our phone # from the phone book and just because we have the same last name as a distant cousin we are getting the phone calls. The option on the recording is “”if you are Mr Bxxx, press 1. There is no option of if we have the wrong phone # press 2 This is extremely annoying.
Hi there, thanks for reaching out. If you are being contacted about a debt that isn’t yours, you can use the information and form found on this page to let the collection agency know that the debt isn’t yours: https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/2022/06/what-to-do-if-its-not-your-debt/ . Once you do that, they should stop calling. I hope this helps!
My family getting a phone calls from this collection agency which appears to be rude and cursing to them.
He threatening me if I do not pay he will jammed all the phone lines on my job, family reference
Tried checking the company it was not licensed collection agency in BC. And I am from Onario. Please assist me, he is harrassing my family, my job and me.
Hi Isabel, thanks for reaching out. If you and your family are both based in Ontario, I would suggest reaching out to the Ontario regulator or using the tools they have on their website: Consumer Protection Ontario. If the collection agency is collecting a debt from an Ontario consumer, they should hold a licence and be registered in Ontario. However, if your family is in BC and you’re certain the collection agency is unlicensed and operating illegally here, you can report the situation to local law enforcement. We believe unlicensed lending to be a criminal matter and, in these situations, the folks to report it to would be your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. I hope this helps!
Please confirm…
I understand that if nothing was pursued in the courts to collect the debt on a consumer, and so there were no judgements made within 2 years, that collections cannot pursue a debt in the courts any more, they cannot sue… correct? (Statute of Limitations)
After 5 years there has not been any judgements in the courts, but of course the case gets passed on to different collections agencies every so often as they give up and sell for pennies on the dollar to each other… They keep calling…
It was Credit Card debt, last payment or acknowledgement back in 2016?
So Collection’s cannot pursue anything in the courts now, like suing, correct?
Consumer has been a BC resident this whole time, but now there seems to be a Collections agency from Ontario calling. They are leaving messages that sound like they are claiming to file something to the courts. Probably just a tactic?
Either way, given what has been shared here, does it not sound like the Statute of Limitations is protecting the consumer, that the debt cannot be pursued in the courts, like being sued, anymore?
Well over 2 years, almost coming up 6 years here now… Please confirm, Thank You 🙏
Hi again Joe. We’ve answered your other questions that you asked in this blog post, so please look for those. Thanks!
Does a Collections Agency have to be licensed?
If the consumer is a BC resident, can they be pursued by a collections agency that is based in Ontario, and not licensed in BC? Or is it OK, as long as they are licensed in Ontario? Where can someone check to see if a collections agency is licensed in Ontario?
If they are not licensed in their office province, nor in the consumer’s province, would it be illegal for them to be pursuing that consumer on a debt collection?
Hey Joe, thanks for your question. If a collection agency is based in Ontario, they must be registered with Consumer Protection Ontario to legally operate. If the agency is not registered in either province (the consumer’s or office), then it may be illegal for them to pursue a debt (with some exceptions).. You can check if an agency is licenced on the Consumer Protection BC website, or on the Consumer Protection Ontario website by following the links. If a collection agency is calling someone in BC, they must follow the collection rules in BC. I hope this helps!
If the Statute of Limitations time has passed, and the consumer wants to make sure that they avoid doing anything that may renew the Collections agency ability to pursue legal action… Would it be safe to mail the letter you have on the website, requesting the agency stop calling, and that they mail instead…?
Or may the collections agency construe that in some way to mean it’s acknowledging the debt, therefore they may then legally pursue suing the consumer, the Statute of Limitation not protecting anymore…?
Would mailing the stop calling letter be safe or not?
Hey Joe, thanks for your follow up question. We don’t have authority over the laws around the statute of limitations, so I suggest speaking to a lawyer to answer your question. Access Pro bono can provide a range of legal services at different costs. I hope this helps!
I have the same last name as the person the collections is after. My name is listed in the telephone listings but his is not…so the collections keep phoning me. I cannot even tell them they have the wrong person because the only option on the recording is ‘if you are Mr X press 1″” I am NOT Mr X so I do not want to press 1 and make them think I AM Mr. X. What do I do to stop the phone calls?
Hey there, thanks for your question. If you are being contacted for a debt that isn’t yours, you can use the form found under “They have the wrong person” on our website to officially notify them you are not the debtor. To reach them via email, I would suggest looking up their business name on Google and finding their email address on their website. Make sure to send it in a way so you have proof of delivery, like email or fax. I hope this helps!
Hi I’m a BC resident. I am currently in Bankruptcy. One payday loan company apparently based out of Quebec, has continuously been harassing my friends and work. I work in a care home and they are jamming up the phone lines for hours. Staff cannot get through, or families even doctors. I have looked up the company on the Quebec Business Registry and was able to find out information. What can I possibly do to make this stop?
Hi Brandi, thanks for reaching out to us here. While we can’t say for sure (because we can only speak to which businesses are licensed in BC), it sounds like this may be an unlicensed lender. If a payday lender is not licensed when they are required to be, they are already operating outside of the law – potentially like a scam or criminal enterprise. In these instances, we would suggest that you report it to your local police. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to resolve issues with these businesses because they often have no interest in following the rules. It’s a big issue that we are aware of. Here’s more information on unlicensed lenders: The risks of borrowing money from unlicensed lenders.
In the future, we would suggest checking to confirm that your payday lender is licensed in BC before taking out a loan with them.
I imagine this was not the answer you were looking for but I hope it helps.
My wife receives collection calls for more than five years.They ask for a male with the same phone number as my wife’s. My wife has had her phone number for twenty years. We tell the collection agencies they have a wrong number. They apologize and calls stop, then start again 4 to 6 months later. It seems they pass this on to a different agency.. How do we make this stop?
Hello Tom, thank you for contacting Consumer Protection BC. We have a form (online or print) your wife can fill out and send to the debt collection agency that’s is contacting her. We hope this can make it more official and any future collection agencies that take on collecting this debt will not contact your wife anymore. The form is available on this page of our website.
Hi I am Kenny. I need Your professional advice on my debts. I have credit cards debts that I stopped paying since October 2023. The reason is my health conditions has caused me to stop working since 2016 when I was laid off. From 2016 till last year (October 2023) I used up all my savings and money borrowed from friends and relatives to pay credit cards payments and pay for expenses at trying to find alternative treatments for my advanced cancer.
During the last 8 months I started getting phone calls and recently (since 3 months ago) written notices from my creditors. To date I have ignored all of them.
I am 77 years old and living / surviving on my monthly OAS/GIS/CPP ($1800 in total) just enough to pay rent and food. My advanced stage cancer has been my biggest nightmare over the years.
Question- Should I just continue to ignore the phone calls and letters from the creditors?? Please give me Your advice. Thank You very much.
Hi Kenny, I’m so sorry to hear about your situation and thank you for reaching out to us. We can’t offer financial advice or suggest you don’t respond to the calls. All we can offer you is what your rights are under BC law. In BC, you have the right to request communication in writing only (details on that above) or can you dispute the debt if you don’t believe you owe it. If you would like financial advice, I would suggest reaching out to your bank to see if they can link you up with a financial advisor. We also have a blog post with more information about the different types of debt relief out there, if that’s an area you would like to explore (for example, not for profit credit counsellors). Here’s more info: https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/2024/01/your-debt-relief-options-in-bc/
There may also be support available through seniors advocates or organization, like the Seniors Advocates of BC: https://www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca/. Their phone number is 1-877-952-3181 (toll free) or 250-952-3181. Perhaps give them a call and explain your situation and they can refer to you to a trusted route or offer insight on other supports that are available. I hope this helps and best of luck.