Got unpaid speeding tickets? Here’s what’s changing this week

On Monday, city council is expected to retain MJR Capital Services Inc. to crack down on fines owed to the provincial offences office on the first floor of the civic centre.

The Mississauga-based collection agency was one of 11 firms that responded to a request for proposals issued by the city.

The city-operated provincial offences office handles things like speeding tickets, liquor tickets, insurance fines, hunting and fishing fines as well as other offences under the Provincial Offences Act.

MJR Capital is expected to get a five-year contract starting Monday, with an automatic extension for an extra two years unless the city provides 90 days notice of termination.

Here are the 11 collection agencies that made proposals to collect unpaid fines:  

• A-1 Credit Recovery & Collection Services Inc., Toronto
• CBV Collection Services Ltd., Markham
• Credit Bureau Collections Algoma District, Sault Ste. Marie
• Credit Bureau of Canada Collections, Mississauga
• Credit Bureau Services Canada, St. Catharines
• Financial Debt Recovery, Richmond Hill
• Gatestone & Co. Inc., Toronto
• International Credit Experts Inc., Woodbridge
• MJR Capital Services Inc., Mississauga
• Partners in Credit Inc., Thornhill 
• Trans world Systems Canada Inc., Toronto

The 11 proposals were evaluated by a committee made up of staff from the provincial offences office and the city's legal department.

"The bulk of the net revenue collected by the agency remains with the city, says Karen Marlow, the city's purchasing manager.

"Commission fees associated with the collection of provincial fines are added to the amount collected resulting in no net cost to the city, Marlow says in a report prepared for Monday's city council meeting.

"MJR Capital proposed a commission rate of 11 per cent plus HST," she said.

The proposed contract with MJR stipulates that settlements aren't allowed on Provincial Offences Act fines accounts.

The new collection deal comes into effect immediately after it's approved by city council.

Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.