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Collection Agency
The following is meant solely to help the reader understand the main features of primary regulations governing this activity, and not meant in any way to provide a legal interpretation.
Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act - Debt Collection:
The Act licenses debt collectors bailiffs and debt poolers. It regulates the behavior of all debt collectors and collection agencies by outlining acceptable practices. It also requires licensed debt collectors to post a bond, maintain adequate financial records and make prompt payment of monies collected.
Further, it provides civil remedy (through the law courts) for consumer debtors who feel they have been subjected to unreasonable collection practices by a debt collector or bailiff.
A Collection Agent, as defined by the Act, is a person who, for remuneration:
(1) carries on business, or represents to any other person that he/she is available to carry on business, collecting debts for others;
(2) collects, negotiates payments of, or demands payment of a debt for any other person;
(3) receives money from a debtor for distribution to any of his/her creditors;
(4) arranges or operates, or represents to any other person that he/she is available to arrange or operate a debt-pooling system;
(5) carries on the business of, or represents to any other person that he/she is available to carry on the business of, taking an assignment of a debt due to another for the purpose of collecting, negotiating payment of, or demanding payment of it.
Primary Contact:
Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority
PO Box 9244, Victoria, B.C. V8W 9J2
Inquiries and Complaints
Phone: 604 320-1667
Toll Free: 1 888 564-9963
Fax: 250 920-7181
Email: info@bpcpa.ca
Licensing
Phone: 604 320-1664
Toll Free: 1 888 777-4393
Fax: 250 920-7181
Email: operations@bpcpa.ca
Website: http://www.bpcpa.ca
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