Are you getting calls from a debt collector? Under BC law, if you have already paid the debt or donât believe you owe it, you have the right to dispute the debt. Hereâs what you need to know.
Your debt collection rights in BC
If a collection agency is trying to collect a debt that you have already paid, or you donât feel you owe, you have the right to dispute the debt. By disputing a debt, youâre telling the creditor and the debt collection agency that you donât believe you owe the debt and that you would like the issue taken to court for resolution.
How to dispute a debt
To dispute the debt, you must notify both the collection agency and the initial creditor in writing. We have forms linked below that you must use. Send your written notification to both parties in a way that gives you proof of delivery (mail, fax, or email). Keep copies for your records and give the collection agency three to five business days to process your request.
- Notify your collection agency and creditor that you are disputing the debt
- Printable form (for debt collection agencies and creditors)
- Online form (only for notifying debt collection agencies – you must have their email)
What if the debt collector keeps calling you?
Once you dispute a debt, the debt collector must stop communicating with 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 youâve done that, please submit a complaint to us directly so we can assess the situation.
Where to go for more information
We know dealing with debt can be stressful, especially if youâre 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 isnât 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
Weâre 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 itâs 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
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Hic not sure how bell justifies it but i used theyre service for 3 weeks 6 years ago and theyre still billing me. I went thru a consumer proposal and it stopped for 3 months now theyre billing me again ive told them i dont owe them a half dozen times ive sworn at them ive told them they’ll never see a cent but for doing nothing they keep sending bills like im using their service. How is this legal and what can be done about it cause im on edge of dropping payments to the proposal and just going back to ignoring the debt my shattered foot caused me. Im lost on how they can just add any amount of money up and bill someone just cause they know my email. Its not only harrassment its fraud as well but so far they are getting away with it and i wonder how manu people theyre doing this too
Hi Degan, thank you for getting in contact with Consumer Protection BC. We do have a form on our website you can fill out to dispute a debt but before you take that step, we would like more information from you. For example, are you getting contacted by a debt collector? Or is it just Bell that is contacting you to pay for the past bills? If you could submit a formal complaint to us on our website, we will review your situation and get back to you. You can submit a complaint here. Thank you, Degan.
I have a debt listed on credit report from 5 years ago from a creditor,the amount listed on this debt was 243.00………
Now, 5 years later, in the ‘ Collection’ portion on my credit report, the same debt is listed again at 888.00 dollars through a debt collection agency.
Can the same debt be listed twice?
Hi Cheryl, if you believe your credit report shows the wrong information about your debt, you can contact the original creditor (or the debt collection agency) to request they make the correction and then ask the credit reporting agency to fix the error. If you want clarity about your credit report, you could also speak to the credit reporting agency (Equifax or TransUnion) to clarify what’s happening there. We can’t speak to the details of your report but hopefully you get some answers through the agency or the original creditor. For more information about credit reports, check out this link here: https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/consumer-help/credit-reporting/. Alternatively, you can dispute the charge by following the instructions above.