Er, I take it you're not applying. If you have a change of heart, you can use me as a reference.

I simply meant that while skip tracing is legal, the methods they use may not be. In any event, don't hold your breath waiting for enforcement.

Ray

OMG... I'm having a shock and horror moment...
In the meantime, I've put a call in to the Privacy Commissioner's office to talk about this..

I don't think it's right for a company to call me and ask me for private information about you... A company MUST get permission to disclose or collection information about an individual from that individual...

Below is a job listing for Total Debt Recovery taken from the Federal Govt job bank.

Job Advertisement Printer Friendly Version
Job Search Safety Advice
E-mail this Job E-mail this Job
Advertisement number: 3415721
Title: Skip tracer (NOC: 1435)
Terms of Employment: Permanent, Full Time
Salary: $1,600.00 to $2,500.00 Monthly for 40 hours per week, Bonus
Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible
Location: Toronto North, Ontario (3 vacancies )
Skill Requirements:

Education: Completion of high school
Credentials (certificates, licences, memberships, courses, etc.): Collector's License
Experience: 0 - 6 months
Languages: Speak English, Read English, Write English
Business Equipment and Computer Applications: Windows, Database software
Specific Skills: Trace and locate debtors, Maintain records and files
Security and Safety: Enhanced reliability security clearance, Credit check
Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: Fast-paced environment, Work under pressure, Tight deadlines, Attention to detail
Transportation/Travel Information: Public transportation is available
Work Location Information: Urban area
Essential Skills: Oral communication, Working with others, Problem solving, Decision making, Critical thinking, Finding information, Computer use
Other Information: Locate debtors through use of telephone and various other trace tools including Internet. Previous experience in trace and call center required. Competitive salaries and excellent bonus plans. We offer Medical/Dental benefits, free parking and a subsidized cafeteria.
Employer: Total Credit Recovery
How to Apply:
Please apply for this job only in the manner specified by the employer. Failure to do so may result in your application not being properly considered for the position.

By Fax: (416) 774-4293
By E-mail: hr@totalcrediting.com
Web Site: http://www.totalcrediting.com

Advertised until: 2008/01/23
This job advertisement has been provided by an external employer. Service Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, authenticity or reliability of the content.

Of course, skip tracing is perfectly legal in Canada. Skip tracing jobs are regularly advertised on the Canada Manpower (HRDC) site. In fact, here's one available right now at Deanna Natale's old office posted there.

http://jobbank.gc.ca/ShowJob_en.aspx?OrderNum=3415721&Source=JobPosting&ProvId=99&Keyword=Total+Credit+Recovery&Sources=JobBank,Government&Student=No

Those interested in applying can call my old admirer, TCR's Wayne Macleod directly at (416) 774-4150, although he will shunt you on to HR - if he doesn't hang up on you first.

Skip tracers can use any means to track down a debtor who has "skipped" or disappeared. Though they advertise the use of the internet and call directories, there are lots of other ways they can track you down. For example, as I mentioned before, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation sells private driver's licence and vehicle registration info to collection agencies.

Because skip tracers are employees of collection agencies, they are required to follow the applicable collection act rules that pertains to their province. Nonetheless, Blogger "XDebt_Collector's" candid remarks last week were indicative of the true state of the complete lack of enforcement of the various provincial collection acts; so much so that Government officials like Ontario Collection Agent Registrar, Brian Pitkin scarely bother to pay them lip service anymore.

"XDebt_Collector" knows wherof he speaks; perhaps a metanoia was the reason for his candour, I dunno. Whatever, if you don't believe him, who will you believe?

Like the Ombudsman/ Compliance Officer (Ho, Ho) at Collectcorp, Joyce Morrison doesn't know what the law is; she's gotta research it and get back to you? Get ready; take a deep breath; hold it; count to 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Now let it out!

In any event, for those of you who enjoy making a career of licking stamps, and getting finger calluses from typing letters, here are the rules for collection agency practices that list the prohibited practices in Ontario. Every province has their own but they're all very similar. As well, the enforcement is also homogeneous across Canada; ie, ZERO!!l

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900074_e.htm#BK6

Ray

Raymond,,
Did you see my post:
/archives/2008/01/are+skip+traces+legal+in+canada+collectcorp+collection+agency.html

CollectCorp called me doing a skip trace on another person...

Are you familiar with skip traces... to me it should be illegal... based on PIPEDA...

As well...the collection agent wouldn't tell me who he was or who he worked for...

There's got to be a way to nail this bugger... I"m doing my research now...

Dear dude22,

I'd say, if you want to see a loser, try looking in the mirror, preferably without breaking it.

Now, get back to chasing ambulances with the rest of your fellow collection agencies.

Like I said before: There's a train leaving town @ 6:00 PM; why not do the world a favour and be under it?

Love

Ray

P.S. And as I also said, take down that damn picture of Deanna Natale over your fireplace!

montyloree,
And the scary part is that I only gave you the Reader's Digest version !

But, I am slowly, but surely, coming back.

Oh, did I mention my house burned down 1.5 years ago and the insurance company was a real b*tch to deal with?
We argued, as did my lawyer, for about a year before finally settling on $1,000 less than I asked for a month after the fire. I was out of my house for almost a year.

Just goes to show that corporations DON'T care about people.

Yeah, I know, sounds like a soap opera.

Who knows? There may be a book in this.
For sure I want to write one about how to deal with insurance companies after a major claim.

But, I have realized that the really ONLY important thing in life is health.

The rest is "stuff."

bogey...
That's a heavy story..and alot of stress points...

People are not machines... you can only handle so much.

It sounds like you're going to have to take a pretty long term approach if you're going to stay in business and try to recuperate...

Creditors have to understand that people can only do so much , especially in high stress times like what you've experienced.

"bogey... was your business problems based on bad decisions, or uncontrollable economic conditions?"

it was a myriad of things, a perfect storm if you will of things in my personal life that affected my business

marriage & divorce, sickness and death of both parents, then my cancer ALL within 3 year period

it was a big shock to my system and things just begin to catch up
but I made some major life style changes and slowly, but surely things got settled

hope I'm not being too much of a downer, but sometimes the dragon wins

you can only play "caregiver" for so long before it all catches up with you