The following is from:
Saskatchewan Justice - Collection Agents
The Collection Agents Act controls the practices of collection agents and collectors and requires them to be licensed and bonded. An agency that practices prohibited methods of debt collection can have its license suspended or cancelled, and may have its bond forfeited to pay persons who suffered a financial loss.
The Act also controls the methods used by collection agents and collectors to collect debts. They cannot:
- collect or try to collect more than is owed or add additional fees or expenses to the debt;
- demand payment without giving the name of the creditor, the balance owed and the identity and authority of the person making the demand;
- harass the debtor, his or her family and household;
- call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. or on Sundays or holidays;
- make a call by a method for which the debtor would incur costs;
- give any person false or misleading information that may be detrimental to a debtor or a debtor's family;
- contact a debtor's employer, except to verify the debtor's employment or in respect of payments under a wage assignment or a court order; or
- send the debtor documents that appear to be court documents.
- Collection Agency Complaints
This is also interesting:
PROTECTION FROM UNSCRUPULOUS COLLECTION AGENTS - SASKATCHEWAN
Legislation introduced today will help protect people from abusive
collection agents.
The Collection Agents Amendment Act adds a number of new provisions to the current list of prohibited collection practices, including:
- Collection agents will be required to serve written demand letters
on debtors before attempting to collect payment of debts;
- Debtors will have the right to notify collection agents to
communicate with them in writing or through their legal counsel; and
- Collection agents will only be able to contact a debtor's employer
once and then only to confirm the debtor's employment, business title and address.
"This legislation will further protect debtors from abusive collection methods," Justice Minister Chris Axworthy said. "Adopting fair practices that are consistent in all provinces and territories will benefit both debtors and collection agents."
The Consumer Measures Committee, a group representing federal, provincial and territorial governments, developed the list of prohibited practices. The committee was established to improve the marketplace for consumers and encourage harmonized consumer legislation across Canada.
The new restrictions add to those already in place, such as barring
collection agents from harassing a debtor or the debtor's family and
friends, prohibiting collection agents from making collect calls, and
restricting the hours during which a collection agent may call.
ddPenalties for first violations include fines of up to $10,000 and no more than a year in jail for individuals and fines of $25,000 for corporations.
Fines for subsequent violations range up to $25,000 for individuals and
$100,000 for corporations.
To reflect the cross-border nature of collections operations, the new act also provides the provincial Registrar with powers to investigate
situations and share information where a collection agency is licensed in another province but does business in Saskatchewan.
For more information, contact:
Debi McEwen
Saskatchewan Justice
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-6043
