If Gatestone & Co. International has been calling you about a telecom, bank, or utility debt, the calls may be coming in high volume — and the collection letters they send have been the subject of multiple federal lawsuits alleging that required disclosures were missing or misleading.
According to court filings reviewed on ClassAction.org, Gatestone has reportedly faced at least eight federal FDCPA lawsuits since 2016, with consumers alleging everything from vague voicemail messages to letters that failed to itemize what was actually owed.
If you have received letters or calls from Gatestone & Co., call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review.
Key Takeaways
- Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. is a debt collection agency founded in 1978, headquartered in Canada, with U.S. offices in Phoenix and Omaha. It also operates as Gatestone & Company Americas Inc. and GS Contact Centre Collections, collecting for banks, telecoms, utilities, and government bodies.
- Court filings allege Gatestone sent letters that failed to clearly itemize principal, interest, and fees — a pattern appearing in at least six federal class actions between 2016 and 2018.
- According to BBB records and consumer complaint filings, Gatestone has allegedly left vague voicemail messages that failed to identify the caller as a debt collector, and reportedly instructed consumers to dispute debts only in writing rather than verbally.
- These letter and voicemail practices are directly tied to 15 U.S.C. § 1692e (false or misleading representations) and § 1692g (validation notice requirements) under the FDCPA.
- FDCPA violations may entitle you to up to $1,000 in statutory damages per lawsuit, plus actual damages and attorney fees.
- The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency. If Gatestone violated federal law, they pay our fees — you pay nothing upfront.
Free Case Review: +1-844-638-1122
Who Is Gatestone & Co. International?
Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. is a third-party debt collection and contact center company founded in 1978 and headquartered in Canada, with offices in Montreal, Toronto, Omaha, and Phoenix, as well as international operations in Belize, Colombia, and the Philippines.
The company recovers debts on behalf of major clients in banking (including American Express accounts), telecommunications, utilities, and government agencies.
In our practice, Gatestone files typically involve smaller-balance debts — telecom and utility accounts — where the collection letter itself, rather than the call conduct, is the most likely source of a federal claim.
- Also Known As: Gatestone & Company Americas Inc., GS Contact Centre Collections
- Address: 455 N 3rd St, Suite 260, Phoenix, AZ 85004 (U.S. operations)
- Phone: 800-678-3052 | (800) 678-3052 | +1-800-678-3052 | 8006783052
- Website: gatestone.com
- BBB Profile: Gatestone & Co. International BBB listing
Phone Numbers Gatestone & Co. Uses
People frequently search phone numbers to identify who is calling them. If one of the numbers below appears on your caller ID, it is associated with Gatestone & Co. International based on consumer reports and documented complaint filings.
800-678-3052
800-678-3052 | (800) 678-3052 | +1-800-678-3052 | 8006783052
866-238-2838
866-238-2838 | (866) 238-2838 | +1-866-238-2838 | 8662382838
800-414-4352
800-414-4352 | (800) 414-4352 | +1-800-414-4352 | 8004144352
Additional numbers reported by consumers: 1-888-826-7820, 800-410-1576, 844-606-1330, 506-889-4908 (Canadian). If any of these numbers appear on your caller ID, document the date, time, and any message left. Gatestone has reportedly used local-area numbers in some markets, so a number that looks local may still originate from a Gatestone outbound dialing system.
Why Is Gatestone & Co. Calling You
Gatestone & Co. is calling you because a creditor — most commonly a bank, telecom, or utility — assigned or sold your account to them for collection. Gatestone works on behalf of clients rather than collecting debts it owns outright, which means the original creditor may still appear in their letters under an abbreviated or unfamiliar name.
In our experience, Gatestone files frequently involve American Express accounts, wireless carrier balances, and utility arrears. If you do not recognize the creditor name in the letter, that is not unusual: court filings allege that Gatestone has used abbreviated creditor names that obscure the chain of title, which is a detail we examine in every file we open.
Is Gatestone & Co. Legit or a Scam
Gatestone & Co. International is a real, licensed debt collection agency operating since 1978 — but licensed does not mean every tactic is legal. Consumers have alleged that Gatestone used vague or misleading voicemail messages that did not identify the caller as a debt collector, which is a specific disclosure the FDCPA requires at 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(11).
If you received a call but no voicemail identifying the purpose of the call, or a letter that didn’t clearly state what you owed and to whom, that is the kind of documented conduct that has driven Gatestone’s federal litigation history. A real company can still generate federal claims through its letter and call practices.
Is Gatestone & Co. Banned by the FTC?
No. Gatestone & Co. International has not been banned by the FTC or subject to an FTC enforcement action, based on available public records as of May 2026. The agency continues to operate as a licensed third-party collector in the U.S. and Canada.
What does exist is a documented pattern of private federal litigation. Multiple class actions filed between 2016 and 2018 allege FDCPA violations related to letter content and validation notice practices. That private litigation record — not an FTC ban — is where the legal risk for consumers engaging with Gatestone actually lives, and it is what we examine when a new Gatestone file comes in.
Has Gatestone & Co. Been Sued
Yes. Gatestone & Co. International has been named as a defendant in multiple federal lawsuits, most of them class actions, alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The cases below are drawn from court filings available on ClassAction.org and federal court records.
- Rivera v. Gatestone & Co. International, Inc., No. 3:23-cv-0035 (D. Conn., 2026) — pro se action alleging fraudulent and coercive attempts to collect an American Express debt in violation of the FDCPA.
- Dykes v. Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. (2018) — class action alleging the company violated the FDCPA by instructing a consumer that disputes must be made only in writing, rather than orally, contrary to 15 U.S.C. § 1692g.
- Perez v. Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. (2017) — proposed class action claiming the company failed to inform a consumer of the exact amount owed, stating the balance could increase without specifying how.
- Traina et al v. Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. (2017) — alleged the company failed to distinguish between principal, interest, and fees in its debt letters, making accurate payoff calculation impossible.
- Aguilar v. Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. (2017) — California class action alleging Gatestone’s collection letters omitted the required notice of a consumer’s right to dispute.
- Pickles v. Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. (2017) — class action concerning allegedly misleading collection letters for an AT&T Mobility debt.
- Fowles v. Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. (2016) — New York action challenging inconsistent statements about the amount of debt owed ($2,039.09 allegedly quoted differently across communications).
- Basch v. Gatestone & Co. International, Inc. (2016) — major class action alleging false, deceptive, and misleading practices, including leaving vague “important” voicemail messages that did not identify the caller as a debt collector.
When we open a Gatestone file, the first documents we request are the validation letter and any voicemail recordings the consumer saved. The letter litigation pattern is consistent: failure to itemize the debt, failure to state that oral disputes are permitted, and creditor names that don’t match the account the consumer recognizes. If you received a Gatestone letter and the balance or creditor name seemed off, that letter may already be the basis of a federal claim.
Can Gatestone & Co. Report to Your Credit
Yes, Gatestone & Co. can report unpaid accounts to Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, but that reporting must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If Gatestone reported a debt before sending a written validation notice, or reported an account you disputed without noting the dispute, those reporting actions may constitute independent FCRA violations separate from any FDCPA claim.
In Gatestone files, we routinely check whether the credit entry appeared before the validation letter was sent — because the sequencing matters under both statutes. If you pulled your credit report and saw a Gatestone entry you didn’t recognize, the entry itself may be the starting point of a federal claim, not just the calls.
How The Wood Firm PLLC Helps Stop Gatestone & Co. Debt Harassment
When a Gatestone file comes into our office, we pull the collection letter first — because that is where the documented violation pattern lives. We examine whether the letter clearly identified the creditor, whether the balance was itemized between principal, interest, and fees, and whether it informed the consumer that a dispute can be made orally, not just in writing.
We also request any saved voicemails and compare the outbound number to Gatestone’s known lines to determine whether the message identified the purpose of the call. These are the specific omissions that drove Gatestone’s class action history, and they are what we look for before evaluating any other conduct.
The Wood Firm PLLC represents consumers exclusively — we have never represented a creditor or debt collector — and all Gatestone cases are handled on contingency: if they violated federal law, they pay our fees.
After you call, we review the letter, any voicemails, and the credit report entry together. If we identify violations, we file in federal court. There are no upfront costs at any stage, and you do not pay anything out of pocket regardless of how the case resolves.
If you have a Gatestone letter in hand or a voicemail saved, those are the two most important pieces of evidence — call The Wood Firm PLLC at 1-844-638-1122 to have them reviewed.
Gatestone’s letter practices have generated federal class action litigation since 2016 — visit our contact page or call +1-844-638-1122 for a free case review. The Wood Firm PLLC handles these cases on contingency — if they violated federal law, they pay our fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gatestone & Co. a real company or a scam
Gatestone & Co. International is a real, licensed debt collection agency founded in 1978 and headquartered in Canada. However, consumers have alleged and court filings document that the company’s collection letters and voicemail practices have violated the FDCPA. A real, licensed collector can still generate federal claims through its day-to-day collection conduct.
Who does Gatestone & Co. collect for
Gatestone & Co. collects on behalf of banks including American Express, telecommunications companies, utilities, and government bodies. The original creditor may appear under an abbreviated or unfamiliar name in Gatestone’s letters, which is a detail courts have scrutinized in prior litigation against the company.
Why is Gatestone & Co. calling you about an old debt
Gatestone & Co. is calling you because a creditor assigned or sold the account to them for collection, sometimes years after the original charge-off. If the debt is older, the statute of limitations may affect your options — but it does not eliminate claims based on how Gatestone is contacting you or what their letters say.
What should you do if you get a Gatestone & Co. letter
Save the letter without responding immediately. Check whether it clearly identifies the creditor, itemizes the balance between principal and fees, and states that you may dispute the debt orally — these are the three specific omissions that appeared in Gatestone’s federal class action history. If any of those elements are missing or unclear, the letter itself may be a federal violation.
Can Gatestone & Co. sue you for an unpaid debt
Gatestone & Co. can file a civil lawsuit if the debt is within your state’s statute of limitations, which typically ranges from three to six years depending on the state and debt type. A court judgment would be required before any wage garnishment could occur. Threats of imminent lawsuits or garnishment without a judgment may themselves constitute FDCPA violations under 15 U.S.C. § 1692e.
What happens if you ignore Gatestone & Co.
Ignoring Gatestone entirely without a written cease-and-desist letter will not stop the calls. If the debt is valid and within the statute of limitations, ignoring collection activity could result in a lawsuit and default judgment. The better approach is to document every contact, request written validation if you haven’t received it, and have a consumer attorney review any letter you received before deciding how to respond.
When does Gatestone & Co. stop calling
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692c, Gatestone must cease all communication after receiving a written cease-and-desist request, except to confirm cessation or notify you of a specific legal action. Each call after a properly delivered cease request may constitute a standalone FDCPA violation. Document every call with date and time and retain any voicemails.
What Happens After You Contact Us About Gatestone & Co.
When you call about Gatestone & Co., we start with the letter and any voicemails — those are the specific materials that have driven Gatestone’s federal litigation since 2016. If we identify a violation in the letter’s validation notice language or in a voicemail that failed to disclose the call’s purpose, we move to filing in federal court. Every Gatestone case is handled on contingency: if they violated federal law, they pay our fees. Call +1-844-638-1122 to have your Gatestone letter reviewed at no cost.
Consumer protection attorney with 15+ years representing consumers exclusively — never a creditor or collector. Admitted in federal courts across 9 districts, including all courts of AR, CO, NM, and TX. Based in Little Rock, AR. Gatestone’s class action history centers on validation letter defects — missing itemization of principal versus fees, and improper restriction of oral disputes — which are the FDCPA claims our firm examines first in every Gatestone file. We have also reviewed Gatestone voicemail recordings for failure to identify the caller as a debt collector under § 1692e(11), a specific omission alleged in the Basch class action.
