Are there any laws that govern collection agents?
Yes. It is against the law for a collection agent to: • harass you, your spouse or family; • harass your employer or threaten to do so; • harass your friends to find out where you live or work; • try to collect more than the amount owing; • call you before 8:00 am or after 9:00 pm and on Sundays and holidays; • make a demand for payment without indicating the name of the creditor, the balance owing and the identity or authority of the person making the demand; • make a telephone call with reversed charges; • send documents that appear to be court documents; and • start or continue a court action in the name of the collection agency unless the debt has been assigned to the collection agency in writing and the debtor knows about the assignment. If you feel a collection agent is harassing you, contact the Consumer Protection Branch at (306) 787-5550 or 1-888-374-4636 (toll free in Saskatchewan).
