Is TPH Legal Services a law firm?

No. It is a paralegal firm. Paralegals in Ontario are licensed and regulated by the Law Society of Ontario, but a paralegal licence carries a narrower permitted scope than a lawyer's: it covers the Small Claims Court and certain tribunals, not the Superior Court of Justice. In practice that means a claim from TPH would normally be brought in the Small Claims Court.

Does a letter from TPH Legal Services mean I am being sued?

Not necessarily. A demand or collection letter is not a lawsuit. You are sued only when you are served with a court-issued Plaintiff's Claim or Statement of Claim bearing a court file number, at which point you generally have 20 days to respond in Ontario.

How much can they sue me for in Small Claims Court?

The monetary limit of the Ontario Small Claims Court increased from $35,000 to $50,000 on October 1, 2025, not counting interest and costs. A Small Claims judgment is still a real judgment and can be enforced by garnishment or by a writ of seizure and sale registered against a home.

Can this affect my home?

Only through the courts and over time. A creditor must obtain a judgment and register a writ of seizure and sale before a home is at risk. Responding before judgment is what keeps a debt from reaching your title.

If a firm has contacted you

Contacted by TPH Legal Services About a Debt in Ontario?

Reviewed by Angelos Spingos, Principal Lawyer, Spingos Law · Licensed by the Law Society of Ontario · Last reviewed July 31, 2026

A letter from TPH Legal Services is a reason to respond promptly — not to panic. Here is who they are, why the difference between a paralegal firm and a law firm changes what can happen next, and how an Ontario homeowner should approach it.

Who TPH Legal Services is

TPH Legal Services is the operating name of TPH Paralegal Professional Corporation, based in Markham, Ontario. Its own published materials describe a paralegal practice covering the Small Claims Court, the Landlord and Tenant Board, provincial offences and traffic matters, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and WSIB matters, and state that the firm is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario and carries professional liability insurance.

It is a paralegal firm, not a law firm. That is not a criticism — paralegals in Ontario are licensed and regulated by the Law Society of Ontario. It is a fact that changes the shape of what can happen next.

Why that distinction matters to you

A paralegal licence carries a narrower permitted scope of practice than a lawyer’s. It allows representation in the Small Claims Court and before certain tribunals; it does not extend to the Superior Court of Justice. In practice, a claim issued against you by TPH Legal Services would normally be a Plaintiff’s Claim in the Small Claims Court rather than a Superior Court Statement of Claim.

That is not the same as “minor.” The Small Claims Court’s monetary limit rose from $35,000 to $50,000 on October 1, 2025, and a Small Claims judgment is a real judgment: it can be enforced by garnishment and by a writ of seizure and sale registered against a home.

What their involvement usually means

When a creditor moves a file to an outside representative, the file is typically being prepared for a claim if it is not resolved. That normally begins with correspondence and calls, and can proceed to a court filing.

Check the document for a court file number and a court seal. A demand letter carries no court deadline. A served Plaintiff’s Claim does — in Ontario you generally have 20 days to file a Defence, and missing it invites a default judgment.

The path from a debt to your home

Demand — letters and calls; no deadline yet.
Claim — you are served; the 20-day clock starts.
Judgment — the court orders payment, often by default because no Defence was filed.
Enforcement — garnishment, or a writ of seizure and sale registered against your home.

Your options

Require proof of the debt — who owns the account now, and how the amount was calculated.
Check the two-year limitation period — older debts may be defensible, but only if you raise it.
Do not admit the debt in writing — and be careful with partial payments, which can restart the clock.
Explore settlement — usually cheaper before judgment than after.
Act before a writ reaches your title — your leverage is greatest early.

What the public record shows

Before you respond to anything, two facts from public sources you can check for yourself.

Better Business Bureau. As of July 31, 2026, the BBB profile for TPH Paralegal Professional Corporation shows the business is not BBB accredited and carries BBB’s lowest rating, F, with consumer complaints on file concerning its collection practices. A BBB rating reflects BBB’s own criteria — including whether a business answers complaints — and is not a finding by a court or by the Law Society of Ontario. Read the profile yourself.

A related collection business. That same BBB profile states that the president of TPH Paralegal Professional Corporation is also the president of Granite Asset Recovery Inc., a Markham company whose own website describes it as a buyer of debt portfolios and a third-party collection agency. If you have heard from both, you may be dealing with the same principals in two different capacities.

Neither fact decides your case. Both are worth knowing when you are weighing whether to pay, dispute, or defend.

Frequently asked questions

Who is TPH Legal Services?: TPH Legal Services is the operating name of TPH Paralegal Professional Corporation, based in Markham, Ontario. Its own published materials describe a paralegal practice covering the Small Claims Court, the Landlord and Tenant Board, provincial offences and traffic matters, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and WSIB matters, and state that it is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario.
Is TPH Legal Services a law firm?: No. It is a paralegal firm. Paralegals in Ontario are licensed and regulated by the Law Society of Ontario, but a paralegal licence carries a narrower permitted scope than a lawyer’s: it covers the Small Claims Court and certain tribunals, not the Superior Court of Justice. In practice that means a claim from TPH would normally be brought in the Small Claims Court.
Does a letter from TPH Legal Services mean I am being sued?: Not necessarily. A demand or collection letter is not a lawsuit. You are sued only when you are served with a court-issued Plaintiff’s Claim or Statement of Claim bearing a court file number, at which point you generally have 20 days to respond in Ontario.
How much can they sue me for in Small Claims Court?: The monetary limit of the Ontario Small Claims Court increased from $35,000 to $50,000 on October 1, 2025, not counting interest and costs. A Small Claims judgment is still a real judgment and can be enforced by garnishment or by a writ of seizure and sale registered against a home.
Is TPH Legal Services the same as Granite Asset Recovery?: They are separate corporations, but BBB's profile for TPH Paralegal Professional Corporation states that its president is also the president of Granite Asset Recovery Inc., a Markham company whose own website describes it as a buyer of debt portfolios and a third-party collection agency. If you have been contacted by both, you may be dealing with the same principals in two different capacities.
Can this affect my home?: Only through the courts and over time. A creditor must obtain a judgment and register a writ of seizure and sale before a home is at risk. Responding before judgment is what keeps a debt from reaching your title.

Sources

Firm description and service list: TPH Legal Services (public website) · Accreditation status, rating and complaint record: Better Business Bureau profile (checked July 31, 2026) · Related collection business: Granite Asset Recovery Inc. (public website) · Paralegal licensing and scope of practice: Law Society of Ontario, By-Law 4 · Small Claims Court — Government of Ontario · Rules of the Small Claims Court, O. Reg. 258/98 · Execution Act · Limitations Act, 2002. General information for Ontario, not legal advice; not affiliated with or endorsed by the firm named.