Consumer Protection FAQ

Yes, you have several rights under the Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act and its regulations.

In your situation, the law forbids collection agencies from:

Calling you before or after the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays;

Contacting you on Sunday (except between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.);

Contacting you on holidays;

Calling you more than three times in a seven-day period (including voice mail messages) without your permission;

Using threatening, profane and intimidating or coercive language or using undue, excessive, or unreasonable pressure; and

Giving false or misleading information to any person.

If a collection agency is engaging in any prohibited practices, you can write a letter of complaint to the collection agency.  If this is not successful, you can file a complaint with Consumer Protection Ontario at 1-800-889-9768 (toll-free) or 416-326-8800 (Toronto area). More information about collection agencies and your rights can be found on Consumer Protection Ontario’s website.

Yes, the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 and its regulations give you certain consumer rights when you buy something from a salesperson either at your door or in your home that costs more than $50.00.

As a consumer, you have the right to a written contract, which has to include specific information about the goods and services and your rights as a consumer. If the contract does not contact the required information, you can cancel the contract within one year of entering into the agreement.

You can also cancel the agreement within one year of entering into it if the business or salesperson made false or misleading statements about the contract.

You have the right to cancel a contract for any reason within 10 days of receiving a written copy of the contract. It is best to send the cancellation in writing so that you have a record of your communication. A sample notice of cancellation is available at the website for the Ministry of Consumer Services.

For most contracts, the company then has 15 days to return your money and to either pick up the vacuum or to pay for you to return the vacuum to the company.

More information about door-to-door sales and your rights can be found on the website for Consumer Protection Ontario.