When I typed his name into Google, a video stating it was his Retirement party came up. Thats why I asked that.

Also, I am wondering if these messages he leaves are actually him or a recorded message that everyone gets from him

Other messages I got from TCR were all recordings

Contact the Law Society of Upper Canada and inquire if Bernard Gassee is still working or is retired. They should know and will give you your answer. Normally when a professional ( i.e. lawyer, doctor, accountant etc. ) retires, they cease paying their annual membership fees to their organization or society. If that happens, you can be sure that the member has retired.

They have called me twice already this week. Then I read somewhere online that Bernie Gassee retired back in 2009.

Are these calls really from him or are they a recorded message that makes it more serious sounding. To intimidate me

What should I do then?

I am so scared

The 'legal letter' is a tactic that all agencies use.

I've paid Bernie Gasee's bills previously for obtaining judgments in Ontario, they are not cheap and you don't get full costs recovered after a judgment is obtained.

An agency would usually need to have more than a couple thousand dollars commission for them to receive before using his services.

But sending the standard 'legal letter' is a cheap and effective scare tactic most agencies use and it is very unlikely they would proceed legally.

Thank you.

You dont know just how much it bothers me though. The lady I spoke to the other wouldnt accept the $200 I was willing to give them and simply hung up on me

Don't let Bernard Gassee intimidate you because that's exactly what he is trying to do. As long as you are making some attempt to pay down your debt, no one will succeed in suing you, including a lawyer. The only time that financial matters ever get to small claims court is when the debtor refuses to make any payment on an outstanding debt, for whatever reason, and even then, the judge looks more favourably on the debtor, especially if there are unusual circumstances why the debt is not being paid. Also, there isn't a lawyer in Canada who would sue a debtor for $963. It just isn't worth their time. My advice to you is to keep making payments to the best of your ability, ignore any written correspondence from TCR and don't talk to any debt collector unless they want to discuss it with you in a sane and sensible manner. Remember, there is no law in Canada that says that you have to talk to a debt collector.

I have been getting many phone calls from TCR about a past due account I have and I finally spoke to someone who seemed nice enough to understand my financial situation (I am not working)

I told this person I can afford to give them $200 on the 20th of this month and they said that isnt good enough. That I must ask a friend and so on.

I received a letter via regular mail today from a Bernard Gasse lawyer for TCR that says unless I get in contact with them and that they are willing to help me, they will file legal proceedings. I am freaking out over this. I dont have the money and they seem to not have any sympathy

The total debt owed is $963.00