Your rights as a consumer

As a consumer, you owe it to yourself to know your rights. Here are a few simple rules to follow when making purchases:

Be informed

  • Read all about it: before purchasing, do your research and ask questions.
  • Contact consumer organizations to get the most information you can.
  • Keep receipts, contracts, proofs of purchase, and other documents, in case you need them later.
  • Read the fine print in ads and contracts.
  • Never sign anything unless you know exactly what you're getting into. Read documents in full before signing.
  • Make sure the business or company you want to deal with is reputable.
  • If you put something on layaway, make sure your deposit is secure and find out if it's refundable.
  • Ask about refund, return and cancellation policies.
  • See the Exhanges and refunds section of the Office de la protection du consommateur du Québec's website.
  • Beware of companies with no fixed address or that have only have a P.O. Box for an address.
  • Beware of 1-900 telephone numbers; they charge by the minute and their rates can be very high.
  • Beware of fraudulent contests and work-at-home scams.

In general

Be on your guard when an offer promises miraculous results. Remember, if an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is.

To find out more

To learn your rights as a consumer, visit the websites of the Office de la protection du consommateur du Québec and the Ontario Ministry of Government Services.