Can Gatestone & Co sue me or seize my home?

No. Gatestone & Co is a collection agency and contact centre, not a law firm. It cannot sue you, obtain a judgment, garnish wages, or place a lien on your home. It can contact you, request payment, and report to credit bureaus. Only a creditor through a law firm can litigate.

Gatestone is calling about a debt I don’t recognize — what do I do?

Do not pay until you confirm the debt is yours. Ask for written verification showing the original creditor’s name and the amount. If the account is not yours, or the amount is wrong, say so in writing and keep records. You are entitled to communication in writing under Ontario’s rules.

If an agency is calling

Is Gatestone & Co Calling You About a Debt in Ontario?

Reviewed by Angelos Spingos, Principal Lawyer, Spingos Law · Licensed by the Law Society of Ontario · Last reviewed July 28, 2026

Before anything else: Gatestone & Co is a collection agency, not a law firm — it cannot sue you or take your home. If they are calling — especially about an account you don’t recognize — the smartest first move is to slow down and verify. Here is what Gatestone is, your rights in Ontario, and when a debt actually becomes a legal risk.

Who Gatestone & Co is

Gatestone & Co Inc. is a debt collection agency and outsourced contact centre founded in 1978 and headquartered in North York, Ontario. It performs first- and third-party collections for a range of creditors. A call from Gatestone means a creditor has placed an account with them for recovery.

Verify before you pay

Agencies sometimes contact people about accounts they do not recognize. Do not pay until you have confirmed the debt is actually yours. Ask, in writing, for verification showing the original creditor and the exact amount. If it is not your debt, or the amount is wrong, say so in writing and keep a record.

Acknowledging a debt or making a payment can restart the two-year limitation period. If the debt is old or unfamiliar, verify first — and get advice before confirming anything.

What Gatestone can and cannot do

Gatestone can call and write within the rules, seek payment, and report to the credit bureaus. It cannot sue you, get a judgment, or touch your home. Court action — and the writ and lien that can follow — requires a creditor to proceed through a law firm.

Your rights in Ontario

Under Ontario’s collection rules you can require Gatestone to communicate only in writing, and agencies cannot harass you, call outside permitted hours, or discuss your debt with your family or employer.

When it becomes a legal risk

The real risk to a homeowner appears only if a creditor escalates the account to a law firm that sues. If you are served with a Statement of Claim, your deadline to respond is strict — that is the point to get legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can Gatestone & Co sue me or seize my home?: No. Gatestone & Co is a collection agency and contact centre, not a law firm. It cannot sue you, obtain a judgment, garnish wages, or place a lien on your home. It can contact you, request payment, and report to credit bureaus. Only a creditor through a law firm can litigate.
Who is Gatestone & Co?: Gatestone & Co Inc. is a debt collection agency and outsourced contact centre founded in 1978 and headquartered in North York, Ontario, providing first- and third-party collections for various creditors.
Gatestone is calling about a debt I don’t recognize — what do I do?: Do not pay until you confirm the debt is yours. Ask for written verification showing the original creditor’s name and the amount. If the account is not yours, or the amount is wrong, say so in writing and keep records. You are entitled to communication in writing under Ontario’s rules.
Can I stop the calls?: Yes. In Ontario you can require an agency to communicate only in writing, and agencies cannot harass you, call outside permitted hours, or contact your family or employer about your debt.

Sources

Ontario Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act · Ontario debt collection rules · Company profile: Gatestone & Co (public website) · Limitations Act, 2002. General information for Ontario, not legal advice; not affiliated with or endorsed by the agency named.