When most folks think about a collection agency, they imagine phone-calls, formal letters, maybe a stern voice on the other end of the line.
At MetCredit we have the technology, the process, and the results in spades. But what really makes this company succeed — and keeps us going, year after year — is our people.
It’s a story you might have to see to believe. (Happily, you can.)
Built on relationships. Grown through family.
Many companies talk about “culture,” but at MetCredit it’s much more than a buzzword. It’s proven by example.
I met my wife, Kathy, working side by side in our collection trenches. Today she serves as our Chief People Officer, still deeply committed to helping each individual grow, thrive and build a career.
We even have multi-generational teams working together: fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, and everything in between. My cousin Mandy is part of that story. Even my mother has enjoyed working at MetCredit.
That’s not at all because “we hire family,” but because together we have built a place where people feel supported, valued, and where they belong.
When family want to join (yours or mine), they are immediately welcomed, and tend to fit right in. It’s a joy that I never tire of experiencing.
Starting on the floor — and moving up
My personal journey has become part of the MetCredit story.
In 1992 I started as a debt collector — yes, to pay off my own student debt that had gone to collections. That first-hand view gave me something rare: the empathy and understanding of what it’s like to be on the other side of the phone, working through challenges, resolving issues.
And I’m far from unique here:
- Our Chief Operating Officer, Marc Billard, joined MetCredit in 1992 and steadily moved up through talent and hard work.
- Senior Vice President Lorne Smith first joined us in 1999. (Catch our newest Overdue Advice podcast for a fascinating interview with Lorne)
- Shannon Walsh, our Client Services Manager and a key part of the team, started in 1995 — that’s 30 years ago.
- Vice President David Hopkyns — who clients across Canada know well through his travels, presence at golf tournaments and decades of work leading the Credit Institute of Canada — has been with us since 1996.
These are just a few. There are dozens more success stories throughout our offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montréal and beyond. In fact, since our founding in 1973, MetCredit has always focused on building depth, not turnover.
A stable business. A stable home.
A business that survives economic downturns has to do more than survive — it has to thrive by being dependable and ethical. MetCredit is licensed and bonded in every Canadian province and territory, and has been for generations now.
We’ve upheld our ethical standards and performance for decades — our “A+” accreditation with the BBB dates back to our early years.
That stability means something for our people.
When you join this company, you’re joining a team built from the ground up for the long term.
For the many who stick, it’s volumes bigger than “making it through this quarter.” I’m talking about building a career, growing with the company, and being part of something that outlasts trends and cycles.
Why “people business” matters in collections
At its essence, collections is a people business. Yes, we collect debt. (And very well, thank you.) We collect by working with real people — interpreting situations, negotiating with integrity, solving problems respectfully. Our culture is rooted in the idea that relationships matter. That respect matters. That the way we treat people (our employees, our clients, and perhaps especially the debtors) matters.
Our corporate culture emphasises this: “Our practices and training are built around the importance of respect to our colleagues, our clients, their customers — and our clients’ brands.”
When you have a team where people stay decades, where they mentor others, where families feel connected — that culture becomes a competitive advantage. A seasoned team knows the business, knows the ethics, and knows how to navigate complexity.
And new team members learn from them.
Stories that span generations
We often hear employees say they “fell into” the industry, then realized they built a long career here. Our Careers page captures many of these stories.
Because when someone joins MetCredit, they’re joining not only an organization, but a network of stellar people, many of whom have been doing this for a very long time. Those generous people share knowledge. They build relationships. They look out for each other.
And that matters when you’re dealing with real-world pressure — whether it’s a tricky account, a legal issue, a deceased estate, or someone having a really bad day. The human element makes the difference.
It’s why we exist.
Leadership, and what it signals
Because so many of our leaders — including myself — began on the collection floor, we understand the work intimately. That means a leadership team that isn’t distant or stuck in theory; we’ve all been in the trenches. We mentor, we listen, we promote from within.
For employees, that translates into trust. For clients, it means your team is led by people who truly know what it takes. All of this supports our message: We Get It.®
And we don’t only serve our clients — we support our people.
Your next move: could this be your home?
If you’re reading this because you’re looking for somewhere you can build something, we might have that home for you. Visit our Careers page and you’ll find videos, stories and real people sharing how they built a career, not just got a job.
MetCredit is not for everyone. But for people who value teamwork, integrity, and growth — it could be your almost-forever work home.
If all of this sounds exciting, you really should find out more!
