Consumer Protection:

Question:Ontario consumer protection lawyer or paralegal help if a business changes my contract after I sign or tries to waive my rights?

Answer:If a business in Ontario changes your contract after you sign or tries to waive consumer rights, a paralegal at Cross Legal Services can review the documents, identify what the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A) requires, and explain your options for disputing the terms and pushing back on unfair practices.  You can call (289) 443-0675 for a practical consultation on your next steps, including how to document the change, what to request from the business, and when small claims or other routes may apply.

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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.

Note: Please contact Cross Legal Services by phone at: (289) 443-0675 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

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: