CANADA · COLLECTIONS·6 min·2026-04-22
Illegal Collection Practices in Canada: Your Rights and Remedies
Canadian debt collectors operate under provincial Consumer Protection Acts and the FDCPA for cross-border collection. Most break the rules — and most consumers don't know the rules exist.
The universal Canadian rules
- No contact before 7am or after 9pm local time
- No contact on statutory holidays
- Must provide written notice within 5 days
- Cannot discuss debt with third parties
- Cannot threaten arrest, wage seizure without judgment
- Must cease contact on written request
Provincial strongholds
- BC: Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act
- Alberta: Fair Trading Act
- Ontario: Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act
- Quebec: Loi sur la protection du consommateur
- Each has its own license + complaint mechanism
US cross-border angle
- FDCPA 15 U.S.C. §1692 applies to US collectors pursuing Canadian debts
- No license from state? Automatic violation
- Contact after cease request: $1,000 per contact
Evidence that wins
- Screen-recording of voicemails with phone displayed
- Texts with timestamps
- Certified mail of cease request
- Triple SHA-3 seal on all of the above
BC BPCPA · Alberta FTA · Ontario CDSSA · Loi sur la protection du consommateur · 15 U.S.C. §1692