Consumer Protection:

Question: What can a paralegal help me do if a business in Ontario tries to use unfair terms, dodge implied warranties, or pressure me into a contract for goods or services I did not fully understand?

Answer:   Ajodhia Legal Services can help Ontario consumers understand and enforce rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A and other consumer protection rules when a retailer, contractor, or service provider uses unfair practices, attempts to limit liability, fails to deliver what was promised, or breaches implied warranties; a paralegal can review your contract and receipts, explain what options you may have for refunds, repairs, or other remedies, and help you prepare next steps to resolve the issue efficiently. Call (647) 882-8205 to get started across Ontario.

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: