Peel,
You just did everyone that does work in the Finance world, as I do with one of the Schedule I banks, a huge disservice and I think actually missed the point on a number of your issues.
1. Don't try to break things down too simply. You miss the bigger picture. See below. You are much better trying to work with people rather than against them. How many people have issues with the the information put in their file by an agency can be determined by the backlog at the Ministry of Commercial Affairs.
2. People do get angry over the issue of someone lying. They are also upset at the fact they have to pay (on a regular basis) 17-21% interest on credit card balances when prime is the lowest in 40+ years. These are people who pay on a regular basis what they can, not credit cheats.
People also get upset at the fact that they lie. Simply by using you flawed argument that we all do, just accept it is wrong. If I try to "do the right thing" and make an agrrement then if the other party reneges then who is in the moral right to get upset? The collectee rather than the collector.
3. People are angry about being forced to go to CitiFinancial and their ilk only when people in the mainstream finance sector like myself put them in that position for reasons only because we are protecting our massive bottom line. RBC made over $1B in profit last year but we won't loan someone with no credit, never mind bad credit, enough money to buy a cheap 5,6,7 year old car. That's the issue. In the same manner talk to any small business owner what they feel about the big banks. They hate us.
Again, Citi charges 32%+ interest (mob-like), I can go get a mortgage for 3.5% (what is advertised). Do you think that discrepency might get people upset?
4. Would things come to crash halt? Probably but be also prepared for legislation soon after the June 28th election to protect privacy much more significant then it is now. The Ministry is already overflowing with cases of neglect and misuse of information by the collection agencies and their tactics. For an example check out todays Star in the letters section of the op-ed pages.
People are fed up of the scare tactics that are used by CBCL and the like. They are fearmongers who are only preying on the conscience of decent people who got into a bad situation. I am sometimes surprised that no one has gone "postal" at one of their offices.
As I said right at the top, work with people, rather than against them. You'll get better results.
SQ