Consumer Protection:

Question: How can a paralegal at Civil Litigations Paralegal Services help me if a company’s contract or sales practice seems unfair under Ontario consumer protection laws?

Answer: A paralegal at Civil Litigations Paralegal Services can help Ontario consumers understand their rights under laws like Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 30, Schedule A, and related rules on unfair practices, contract requirements, pricing, and implied protections for the quality or performance of goods.   If a corporation changed terms, used deceptive marketing, or wouldn’t honour what you were promised, Civil Litigations Paralegal Services can review your documents, identify possible issues, and help you choose practical next steps such as preparing a complaint, compiling evidence, or progressing a civil resolution pathway.   For a clear review, call (416) 229-1479 and ask about your situation in 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: