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Debt Collection
Posted on21 November 2011
A Debt Collector Called My Workplace
Written by Michelle
If you owe money to a creditor, they do have the right to contact you in an effort to collect the outstanding amount. However, there are collection rules that must be followed as set out by the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act as well as the Debt Collection Industry Regulation. Here is some information about when collectors can contact you.
When can a collector call me?
Collectors can only contact you Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 9 pm at your local time. On Sundays, they can call from 1 pm to 5 pm. Collectors are not allowed to contact a debtor on statutory holidays.
Can a collector call my friends and family?
Many consumers don’t know this but collectors are allowed to call your friends, family, members of a household or even a neighbour but only for the purposes of asking for your home address and/or phone number. Collectors are not to discuss details of the debt with 3rd parties unless you give authorization.
What about my place of employment?
Collectors can contact your place of employment for the purposes of confirming your employment, business title, and business address. Collectors are not permitted to discuss the details of your debt with anyone from your place of employment unless you give authorization.
If you are being contacted by a collections agency and feel that your rights have been violated, please visit the “How to make a complaint” page on our debt website. We also have some templates you can use to correspond with a debt collector on a variety of issues.
If you have a question about your rights as a debtor, please visit www.debtrightsbc.ca or contact the Inquiry unit by phone at 1-888-564-9963 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Published in Debt Collection.
Michelle
Michelle works in the Consumer Protection BC Inquiry Centre. She answers calls and emails from consumers and businesses on a wide variety of topics which makes her the perfect person to share her knowledge and experiences with you.
Comments
Wendy Steciuk
08 December 2011Michelle
09 December 2011Great question. There is an act called the Limitations Act which generally applies to this type of situation. We do not oversee this piece of legislation, however it appears to state that collectors are barred from commencing legal action to collect upon a debt more than 6 years after the debt became due. Be aware that under the legislation, certain events may "pause" the 6 year time frame. Additionally, the starting period may be "reset" in certain scenarios. If you have specific questions you may want to consult a lawyer.
Best regards,
Michelle
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