What does Credit Bureau of Canada Collections do?
Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is a third-party collection agency. It collects unpaid debts on behalf of other companies.
When a creditor gives up trying to collect what you owe, it hands the account to an agency like Credit Bureau of Canada Collections. The agency earns a percentage of whatever it recovers. It does not own your debt. The original creditor still does.
Credit Bureau of Canada Collections also has an in-house legal team. If you ignore the debt long enough, the agency can pursue legal action directly rather than sending the file back to the creditor.
Is Credit Bureau of Canada Collections a credit bureau?
No. Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is not a credit bureau. The name is misleading, and most people assume the two are connected. They are not.
Equifax and TransUnion are Canada’s two credit reporting agencies. They compile your credit history into a report that lenders use to decide whether to lend to you. Credit Bureau of Canada Collections does neither of those things. It collects debts.
The “credit bureau” part of the name refers to the agency’s ability to report your unpaid debt to Equifax or TransUnion. That reporting affects your credit score, but Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is not a bureau itself. It is a debt collector that can report to the actual bureaus.
Source: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada – Credit reports and credit scores
Who does Credit Bureau of Canada Collections collect for?
Credit Bureau of Canada Collections works with creditors across several industries. Its clients include telecommunications companies, utility providers, municipal governments, parking authorities, and financial services firms.
The company does not publish a client list. You find out who the original creditor is when Credit Bureau of Canada Collections sends you its initial notice letter. That letter must include the creditor’s name and the amount owed. If it does not, ask for it in writing before you respond.
Credit Bureau of Canada Collections has offices in Mississauga, Toronto, St. Catharines, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; and New Westminster, British Columbia.
Is Credit Bureau of Canada Collections legitimate?
Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is a legitimate, licensed collection agency. The company has operated in Canada since 1947.
It is registered as a collection agency in Ontario under the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act with licence number 4588638.
Source: Government of Ontario – Search for a business licence
As of January 2026, Credit Bureau of Canada Collections also holds a collection agency permit in Quebec through the Office de la protection du consommateur.
Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is a member of the Canadian Society of Collection Agencies (CSCA) and the Credit Association of Greater Toronto (CAGT). Its management system is certified to ISO 9001, an international quality management standard.
Source: Canadian Society of Collection Agencies – Member Directory
That does not mean every call claiming to be from Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is real. Scammers impersonate collection agencies. If something feels off, hang up and call the agency directly using the number on its official website, collectcents.com.
Why is Credit Bureau of Canada Collections contacting me?
If Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is calling, a creditor has referred your unpaid account for collection. The debt is usually a bill you stopped paying, such as a phone bill, utility bill, or loan.
Don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either. Before you confirm anything or make a payment, get written verification of the debt. That means a letter or document showing the original creditor’s name, the account reference, the total amount claimed, and a breakdown of what you owe.
Be careful how you respond. In some provinces, acknowledging a debt or making a partial payment restarts the debt statute of limitations period. In Ontario, that limitation period is two years. Once it restarts, the creditor has more time to sue you.
Source: Government of Ontario – Stop collection agency calls
What are your rights when Credit Bureau of Canada Collections contacts you?
Provincial laws regulate how Credit Bureau of Canada Collections can contact you. In Ontario, the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act sets the rules.
The agency must send you a written notice by mail or email before it calls to collect. After sending that notice, it must wait six days before phoning you.
Contact hours and frequency
In Ontario, Credit Bureau of Canada Collections can call Monday to Saturday between 7:00 am and 9:00 pm, and Sundays between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. No calls are allowed on statutory holidays.
After the agency speaks with you, it cannot contact you more than three times in seven days for the same debt without your consent.
Source: Government of Ontario – Stop collection agency calls
What the agency cannot do
Credit Bureau of Canada Collections cannot use threatening, intimidating, or abusive language. It cannot give misleading information about your debt. It cannot threaten legal action unless the original creditor has given written permission to start proceedings.
It cannot contact your employer about the debt except once to confirm your employment status.
If Credit Bureau of Canada Collections breaks these rules, file a complaint with Consumer Protection Ontario. Document every call, including the date, time, and what was said.
Source: Government of Ontario – Stop collection agency calls
How does a CBCC collection affect your credit report?
A collection entry from Credit Bureau of Canada Collections appears on your Equifax and TransUnion reports. It lowers your credit score.
A collection account stays on your credit report for six years in most provinces. Equifax counts from the date the debt was assigned to the collection agency. TransUnion counts from the date of the first delinquency with the original creditor.
Source: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada – How long information stays on your credit report
Paying the collection does not remove it from your report before that six-year period ends. But a paid collection looks better to lenders than an unpaid one. If you are planning to apply for a mortgage or car loan, a paid collection makes a difference.
Talk to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee
If Credit Bureau of Canada Collections is contacting you and you cannot afford to pay the debt, several debt relief options are available to you.
A Licensed Insolvency Trustee can review your situation and explain what is available to you, including consumer proposals and other debt relief programs. The initial consultation is free.
Have questions about debt?
Talk to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee. It’s free and confidential.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Credit Bureau of Canada Collections the same as CollectCents?
Yes. Credit Bureau of Canada Collections operates under the corporate name CollectCents Inc. The company’s website is collectcents.com. Both names refer to the same organization.
Can Credit Bureau of Canada Collections garnish my wages?
Not without a court order. A collection call or letter from Credit Bureau of Canada Collections does not give it the power to take money from your paycheque or freeze your bank account.
To garnish wages, a creditor must first file a lawsuit and obtain a court judgment.
Government benefits like Ontario Works and the Canada Pension Plan cannot be garnished by a collection agency at all.
Can I dispute a debt with Credit Bureau of Canada Collections?
Yes. You can send Credit Bureau of Canada Collections a written notice by registered mail, email, or courier stating that you dispute the debt and wish to have the matter taken to court.
Once the agency receives that notice, it cannot continue to contact you without your consent. Keep a copy of everything you send.
Source: Government of Ontario – Stop collection agency calls
How do I pay Credit Bureau of Canada Collections?
Contact Credit Bureau of Canada Collections directly through its official website at collectcents.com or by phone at 1-800-256-8964.
Do not make a payment to an unknown number or email. Confirm the amount owed and get a written receipt for any payment you make.
Can Credit Bureau of Canada Collections contact my employer?
Only once, and only to confirm your employment status, job title, or business address. Credit Bureau of Canada Collections cannot discuss your debt with your employer unless your employer guaranteed the debt or you have given written permission.
Source: Government of Ontario – Stop collection agency calls
How long does a CBCC collection stay on my credit report?
A collection account stays on your credit report for six years in most provinces. Equifax starts counting from the date the debt was assigned to Credit Bureau of Canada Collections. TransUnion starts from the date of the first delinquency with the original creditor.
Paying the collection does not remove it early, but it updates the status to “paid,” which lenders view more favourably.
Source: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada – How long information stays on your credit report