Consumer rights beefed up

[Tim]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1121897412976&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes

I wonder how effective this will prove to be, and would this apply to liberal government contracts that seem to run way over budget. ;)

[Bogie]

"Other elements of the new act include a prohibition on negative option billing, the controversial practice of charging for a new service automatically unless the consumer explicitly refuses it." ABOUT TIME! Cellphone and cable TV new accounts are a prime example of this sneaky practice.

"Get all our features for 3 months - at no cost to you!
Just cancel the extra services at any time and you won't get billed" (they quickly and quietly whisper this last part or leave it up to you to read the fine print.)

So many people get pulled-in on that one, and land up with big bills after the 3 months is over. I have always refused these "free" services, and find myself with a fight on my hands to refuse "free" services .... "But sir, it's free, why don't you want it? You can cancel at any time!"


"Consumers can also refuse to pay for goods or services not delivered within 30 days of when they were promised."No more "customer financing" of retailers stock purchases - again, "about time".


And the cooling-off period for cancelling timeshares, vacation clubs and gym memberships has been doubled to 10 days. Great move, but should be even longer, let's say - 2 weeks (unless 10 days means 5 working days - Mon-Fri x 2). Let the glitz and glamour wear off, and common sense slap you in the face of reality to realize what you just bought into really isn't that great! The "free - prize" TV was just paid for by you!


In another change, consumers will have the same rights for Internet purchases as they do for all other purchases.In Internet transactions, the business must disclose detailed information to the consumer, including policies on cancellations and exchanges, and deliver a copy of the agreement within a specified period. I thought this was already covered under provincial law? Of course, the hard part to enforce is, just like mail or TV order, "out of province" purchases. Ontario law is helpless there, and the Internet is global in nature. Good luck on this one.