Consumer Protection:

Question:What consumer protection rights do Ontario buyers have if a seller doesn’t deliver as promised?

Answer:In Ontario, you may have protections under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 30, and related rules that can require clear contract terms and address unfair or misleading business practices.  You may also rely on implied warranties under common law that goods must be fit for the intended purpose, and on other consumer-focused statutes that affect pricing, competition, and sales terms like the Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34, and the Sale of Goods Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.1.  For a fast, practical review of your situation, Legacy Legal Services can help you assess your options and next steps, call (226) 246-3825 to speak with a legal professional in Ontario.

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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 Legacy Legal Services by phone at: (226) 246-3825 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: