In Ontario, collection agencies must follow the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act. They can only call between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, no more than 3 times in 7 days, and they cannot threaten you, lie to you, or discuss your debt with your employer or family. A collection agency also cannot take your wages or bank account without a court judgment. At Metus Lykos Debt Law Firm, we are Ontario debt lawyers who help people stop collection pressure and deal with the debt behind it for good.
Quick answer
- An agency must send you a written notice by mail and wait 6 days before calling you about the debt.
- Allowed call times: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, never on a statutory holiday.
- No more than 3 contacts in any 7-day period without your consent.
- If you dispute the debt in writing by registered mail and ask that it go to court, the agency must stop contacting you.
- Most debts in Ontario can’t be sued on after 2 years under the Limitations Act, 2002, but a payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock.
Collection calls are stressful. They come at work, at dinner, and on the weekend, and they can make you feel like you have no control. You do. Ontario law sets clear limits on what collectors can do, and knowing those limits is the first step to taking your life back.
What law controls collection agencies in Ontario?
Collection agencies and individual collectors in Ontario are governed by the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act and its regulations. Every agency that collects in Ontario must be registered with the province. If a caller will not give you their name, the agency’s name and a mailing address, that is a red flag.
For a plain-language overview of who collection agencies are and how they get your file, see our guide on what a debt collection agency is in Canada.
When can a collection agency call me in Ontario?
Only at these times:
| Day | Allowed contact hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Sunday | 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Statutory holidays | No contact allowed |
Before the first call, the agency must mail you a written notice about the debt and then wait at least 6 days. Email does not count as that notice.
How many times can a collector contact me?
No more than 3 times in any 7-day period, unless you agree to more. Calls, voicemails and in-person visits count as contact. A letter by regular mail does not.
Can a collection agency call my work or my family?
Only in very limited ways. A collector can contact your employer to confirm that you work there, your job title and the work address. They cannot discuss your debt with your employer unless you have agreed to it or your employer guaranteed the debt.
A collector can contact your family, friends or neighbours only to get your address or phone number. They cannot tell those people that you owe money.
What is a collection agency not allowed to do?
Ontario law prohibits collectors from:
- Threatening you, using abusive or profane language, or pressuring you in a way that amounts to harassment
- Giving false or misleading information, including saying you will be arrested
- Calling outside the permitted hours or more than 3 times in 7 days
- Discussing your debt with your employer, family or neighbours
- Continuing to contact you after you have disputed the debt by registered mail and asked that it go to court
- Taking money from your wages or bank account without a court order
How do I stop collection calls in Ontario?
There are three legal ways to stop the calls:
- Dispute the debt in writing. Send the agency a registered letter saying you dispute the debt and that they should take the matter to court. The agency must then stop contacting you. The creditor can still sue.
- Deal with the debt. A negotiated debt settlement closes the account once the agreed amount is paid.
- Get legal protection. Once a consumer proposal is filed, a stay of proceedings stops collection calls, lawsuits and wage garnishment from the unsecured creditors in it.
When you hire us, we notify your creditors and collectors that you are represented by our firm. From then on they deal with our office, not with you, and the calls stop.
Do I legally have to pay a collection agency?
If you owe the debt, the debt is real, even when an agency is collecting it. But you do not have to agree to the agency’s demands on the spot, and you have the right to ask for proof of the debt in writing. Before you pay, check whether the debt is past the limitation period, because a payment can restart it.
How old can a debt be before they can’t sue in Ontario?
Under Ontario’s Limitations Act, 2002, a creditor usually has 2 years from the day of default to start a lawsuit. After that, the debt is “statute-barred”. A collector may still ask you to pay it, but a court claim should fail if you raise the limitation period as a defence. A partial payment or a written acknowledgment of the debt can restart the 2-year clock. Read more in our guide to the statute of limitations on debt.
How do I complain about a collection agency in Ontario?
File a complaint with Consumer Protection Ontario. Keep a log of every call: the date, time, the caller’s name, and what was said. Save letters, voicemails and texts. That record makes a complaint far stronger.
Collection Agency FAQs
What time can a collection agency call in Ontario?
Between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday. They cannot call on a statutory holiday.
How many times a week can a collection agency call me in Ontario?
No more than 3 times in any 7-day period, unless you agree to more contact.
Can a collection agency contact my employer in Ontario?
Only to confirm your employment, job title and work address. They cannot discuss your debt with your employer unless you consented or your employer guaranteed the debt.
Can a collection agency garnish my wages?
Not on its own. A creditor must first sue and win a court judgment. Only then can it ask the court to garnish your wages or bank account. CRA is the main exception, because it can garnish without going to court.
What should I never say to a debt collector?
Do not admit the debt in writing or promise a payment you cannot make until you have checked the details. A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the limitation period on an old debt. Never give bank account access over the phone.
Is there a phrase that stops debt collectors?
The “11-word phrase” you see online comes from United States law. In Ontario, the legal tool is a registered letter saying you dispute the debt and asking the agency to take it to court. After that, the agency must stop contacting you.
Can a debt from 10 or 20 years ago still be collected in Ontario?
A collector may still ask for payment, but most consumer debts cannot be enforced in court once 2 years have passed since default without a payment or written acknowledgment. Court judgments and some government debts follow different rules.
Does a consumer proposal stop collection agencies?
Yes. Once a consumer proposal is filed, a legal stay of proceedings stops collection calls, lawsuits and wage garnishments from the unsecured creditors included in it.
Will a collection agency hurt my credit score?
Yes. A debt sent to collections is usually reported to Equifax and TransUnion, and it stays on your report for years. Paying or settling it updates the status but does not remove the history right away.
Stop the Calls and Deal With the Debt
Book a free, confidential consultation. We will explain your rights and the legal options that end the collection pressure for good. We work for you, not your creditors.
