DURHAM — A new provincial ban on unsolicited door-to-door sales of certain household appliances aimed at better protecting consumers from aggressive and misleading contracts will come into effect on March 1.
Under the new Ontario legislation, businesses will only be able to enter into a contract in a consumer’s home if the consumer has contacted the business ahead of time and invited them into their home for the purpose of entering into a contract. Contracts that are in violation of the new rules relating to door-to-door contract solicitation will be considered void and consumers will be able to keep the goods and services with no obligations.
The new rules will apply to the sales of air cleaners, air conditioners, air purifiers, duct cleaning services, furnaces, water filters, water heaters, water purifiers, water softeners and water treatment devices as well as bundles of these goods and services.
In addition, businesses will be required to keep a record of how contact with the consumer entering the contract was made and all contracts signed in the home for these goods and services will also have a 10-day cooling-off period, allowing consumers to cancel the contract for any reason without penalty.
If a consumer calls for a repair, maintenance or any other reason, businesses will only be allowed to leave information about the products and services they offer unless the business has a written contract in place with the consumer and secures the consumer’s approval in advance of the visit to solicit a contract for the restricted goods or services.
Businesses will also need to keep a record of how contact with the consumer was made and provide consumers with clear information about their rights.
Door-to-door contracts have been among the top complaints received by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services and Ontario will become the second province in Canada to restrict door-to-door solicitation and contracts.
“These new laws will ensure that people aren’t being taken advantage of through unsolicited door-to-door contracting. We have heard from many consumers, including many seniors, who are being taken advantage of at their doorsteps,” said Tracy MacCharles, minister of government and consumer services, in a press release.
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