Q.Under what circumstances can a collection agency leave a message requesting a return call?

A.A collector or a collection agency is permitted to leave a message for you on your voicemail or with someone other than you answering the phone provided no information is given disclosing the existence of a debt.

Collectors employed by collection agencies are permitted to leave their name and their phone number when requesting a return call. Collectors are not permitted to make any statements that would suggest the existence of a debt. Therefore, when leaving a message requesting a return call a collector is not permitted to provide the name of his employer, the collection agency, nor make any reference to the consumer's account. If a collector or a collection agency breach this prohibition they have committed a third party disclosure which is illegal.

The practice of leaving telephone messages with neighbours

Be aware that some collectors, wanting to speak with a consumer in an attempt to collect a debt, will leave a message with a consumer's neighbour requesting a call back. In some provinces the government agency responsible for regulating the conduct of collection agency considers this practice to be illegal behavior on the part of a collector and the collector's employer.

If you want to learn more about what conduct on the part of collection agencies operating in your province is illegal you may want to speak to Mark Silverthornor buy a copy of his e-book titled A How-to Guide for Dealing with Collection Agencies in Canada .