Consumer Protection:

Question: How can a paralegal help me understand my rights under Ontario consumer protection laws if a business refuses a refund or repair?

Answer: In Ontario, a paralegal at Forseti Legal Services can help you identify which consumer protection rules apply to your situation, review your contract, receipt, warranties, and communications, and explain practical next steps for demanding a refund, repair, or other remedies based on the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sch. A   and related laws that may limit unfair or misleading sales practices, while also considering common-law implied conditions and warranties.   If you share your deal details (what you bought, when you bought it, what was promised, and what went wrong), Forseti Legal Services can help you prepare a clear demand and organize evidence so you are in a stronger position with the business or for next-step options in Ontario.   Call (705) 806-7577 to discuss your options.

In the world of commerce, and in particular matters of consumer transactions, the individual person as a purchasing consumer is often at significant disadvantage in business dealings, especially when such business dealings involve large corporations.  To help balance the playing field, so to help ensure that individual consumers receive fairness during business dealings, consumer protection laws were put into place.

Without the protection of consumer protection statutes, consumers would be subjected to the common law and the age old adage of buyer beware or caveat emptor as such is known in Latin) and often referred to within historical legal precedents.

The Law

The law contains many statutes that contain provisions providing protection to consumers including, among various others:

• The Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, Chapter 30, Schedule A;
• The Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34; and
• The Sale of Goods Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.1.

In addition to the statute laws as above, and despite buyer beware principles, the common law as ruled by judges also contains protections for consumers such as implied warranties requiring that sellers to supply products appropriate for the intended purpose or for the performance of good work.

Common Issues Include: