Gatestone & Co. on Your Credit Report: What to Know

Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. is a global business process outsourcing company and debt collection agency with origins in Toronto, Canada and U.S. operations headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

The BBB has posted an Alert warning that the agency uses intimidating tactics to obtain personal information and that consumers are often unaware of the debts Gatestone contacts them about.

A 2015 Texas federal case alleged Gatestone attempted to collect a time-barred debt without disclosing it was past the statute of limitations. A 2018 proposed class action alleged Gatestone’s collection letters failed to accurately communicate what consumers must include in a written notice to activate their FDCPA dispute rights.

Who Is Gatestone & Co. International, Inc.?

Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. was founded in 1978 in Toronto, Canada, formerly a subsidiary of Equifax Canada Inc. The company incorporated in Delaware in 1995 and opened Phoenix, Arizona operations in 2003. Additional U.S. offices include Fredericksburg, Virginia; Omaha, Nebraska; and Minnesota.

Gatestone is not BBB-accredited. The agency also operates under the alternate business names CC Corporation, Collectcorp Corporation, and Collection Corp. Any of these names on your credit report represents the same company.

Who Does Gatestone Collect For?

Gatestone operates as a third-party collector for financial institutions, government bodies, educational institutions, and utility companies. Confirmed clients from published court and industry records include:

• American Express: Multiple published sources confirm American Express as a documented Gatestone collection client for defaulted credit card accounts.
• University of Phoenix: Educational institution debt including tuition, fees, and institutional loans are documented Gatestone collection categories.
• U.S. Department of Education: Gatestone has collected on behalf of the federal Department of Education on student loan accounts.
• Utility companies and government bodies: These sectors appear in Gatestone’s published service descriptions for both U.S. and Canadian markets.

Two Documented Legal Cases

Olivia v. Gatestone & Co. International (Harris County, Texas, December 2015) alleged violations of the federal FDCPA and Texas Debt Collection Act for attempting to collect a time-barred debt without disclosing it was past the statute of limitations.

The 2018 proposed class action alleged Gatestone’s collection letters failed to clearly specify that the written notice must include a dispute of the debt to activate FDCPA validation rights, leaving consumers believing they had exercised protections they had not actually triggered.

BBB Alert: Intimidating Tactics and Unaware Consumers

The BBB has posted a formal Alert on Gatestone’s profile specifically citing two patterns: consumers are frequently unaware of the debt before Gatestone contacts them, and Gatestone uses intimidating tactics to obtain personal information during those initial contacts.

Common Gatestone Complaint Patterns

BBB and CFPB complaint records surface specific recurring issues tied to Gatestone’s collection conduct.

• Contacting consumers about debts they had no prior knowledge of: The BBB Alert documents this pattern. Multiple complaints describe consumers learning of a collection account only through Gatestone’s initial contact.
• Using intimidating tactics to obtain personal information: The BBB Alert names this conduct directly. Documented complaints describe Gatestone demanding personal details before disclosing who is calling or why.
• Collection letter language that obscures FDCPA dispute rights: The 2018 class action targeted Gatestone’s form letters. Any Gatestone letter that does not clearly state the notice must dispute the debt may contain the same deficient language.
• Attempting to collect time-barred debts without disclosure: The 2015 Texas case documents this. If a Gatestone account is older than your state’s statute of limitations, the agency must disclose it cannot sue before any collection attempt.

What Gatestone Cannot Do Under Federal Law

• Attempt to collect time-barred debts without disclosure: The Olivia case established this as a documented Gatestone practice. If the debt is past the statute of limitations in your state, Gatestone must disclose it cannot sue to collect.
• Send collection letters that obscure FDCPA dispute rights: The 2018 class action specifically alleged Gatestone’s letter failed to clearly communicate what consumers must include in a written notice. Every collection letter must unambiguously inform consumers of what is required to trigger validation.
• Use intimidating tactics to obtain personal information: The BBB Alert names this conduct. Using pressure to obtain personal information before disclosing identity and purpose may violate FDCPA Sections 1692d and 1692e.
• Continue collection after a written validation request: All collection activity must pause after Gatestone receives a certified validation letter until it produces documentation.
• Contact outside legal hours: Calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time are prohibited.

Verify Before Paying Gatestone

Send a certified validation letter demanding the original creditor’s name and contact information, the original account number, the date of first delinquency, an itemized balance statement, and written confirmation of whether the debt is within the statute of limitations in your state.

How to Check Your Credit Report

Pull all three reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and search for Gatestone, CC Corporation, Collectcorp Corporation, and Collection Corp as the furnisher. Confirm the original creditor, balance, and date of first delinquency.

If the date of first delinquency predates the statute of limitations in your state, that is grounds for both a collection cease request and a bureau dispute.

How Long Can Gatestone Legally Pursue the Debt?

Arizona allows six years on most written contracts. The state where your original account was opened controls the statute. The credit reporting window is a separate seven-year clock from the original date of first delinquency.

Your Options for Resolving the Account

• Check the statute of limitations before any other action: Given the 2015 Texas case, confirm whether the debt is time-barred in your state. If it is, Gatestone must disclose this before continuing collection.
• Review your Gatestone collection letter closely: The 2018 class action targeted form letter language. If your letter does not clearly state that your written notice must dispute the debt to trigger validation, that language may be legally deficient.
• Demand identification before providing personal information: Given the BBB Alert, do not provide any personal details during a Gatestone call before they have fully identified themselves and the purpose of the call.
• File a CFPB complaint for time-barred collection without disclosure: If Gatestone is collecting on an older debt without disclosing the statute of limitations status, document the contact and file a CFPB complaint citing the Olivia case conduct.

How to Contact Gatestone & Co.

Handle all communication in writing. Send disputes by certified mail with return receipt requested:

• Address: Gatestone & Co. International, Inc., 455 N 3rd St., Suite 260, Phoenix, AZ 85004
• Phone: (800) 900-4238

Bottom Line

Gatestone & Co. is a global collector with a BBB Alert for using intimidating tactics to obtain personal information from consumers who often have no prior knowledge of the debt. The 2015 Texas case over time-barred debt collection and the 2018 proposed class action over misleading FDCPA dispute language are the two most important legal precedents to understand before engaging.

Check the date of first delinquency on any Gatestone account immediately. If it is past your state’s statute of limitations, Gatestone is legally required to disclose that before pursuing collection.

If a Gatestone account is on your credit file, the right move depends on whether the debt is within the statute of limitations, whether the collection letter clearly communicated dispute rights, and whether the original creditor and chain of ownership are fully documented.