July 23, 2018
Consumer Protection Office Issues Administrative Penalties against Unlicensed Direct Seller
Manitoba Justice’s Consumer Protection Office (CPO) advises an Ontario-based door-to-door direct sales company has been assessed two separate administrative penalties totalling $10,000.
On July 9, two $5,000 notices of administrative penalties were issued to 950688 Canada Incorporated, doing business as True North Home Solutions, for conducting door-to-door direct sales of HVAC, water filtration and air-quality systems in Manitoba without a vendor licence and direct seller licence.
The Consumer Protection Act requires vendors and direct sellers to be licensed by the CPO. Under the act, corporations are subject to an administrative penalty of $5,000 for the first contravention, $10,000 for a second and $20,000 for any subsequent contravention.
Manitoba consumers who enter direct sales agreements with unlicensed businesses or individuals have one year to cancel their purchase. Anyone who has entered into a contract with an unlicensed direct seller and wants to cancel should contact the CPO for advice on how to proceed.
For information on administrative penalties, including penalties that have been issued, go to www.gov.mb.ca/justice/cp/cpo/info/penalties.html.
For more consumer tips and alerts, follow the Manitoba government on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/MBGovor visit www.facebook.com/ManitobaGovernment and download the free consumer protection mobile app.
To learn more about consumer rights and responsibilities, visit the CPO websitewww.gov.mb.ca/cca/cpo, call 204-945-3800 or 1-800-782-0067 (toll-free in Manitoba) or email consumers@gov.mb.ca.
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