CARP Members Support Prohibition of Door to Door Sales

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2016

CARP Members Support Prohibition of Door to Door Sales

Toronto, ON:  CARP is pleased to support Etobicoke Centre MPP Yvan Baker’s reintroduction of Bill 193, the Door-to-Door Sales Prohibition Act, following the prorogation of the Ontario Legislature.  CARP  calls for all-party support of this important legislation which offers needed legal protection for Ontarians who continue to be victimized by unscrupulous vendors.

According to the Ontario government, most complaints they receive about door-to-door sales concern unclear contracts or misrepresentations by sales people and tend to be expensive consumer goods such as furnaces, air-conditioners, water heater and water treatment systems. The Bill allows for further items to be added to the list through regulation so that the Legislature can adapt as scams change over time.

A recent poll to CARP members indicated that 95% believe that predatory door-to-door sales is an issue for seniors and over 90% of members do not believe that governments across our country have done enough to address the issue.  97% of respondents said that door to door sales were less convenient than shopping in a store, over the phone or online and 80% of CARP members were specifically supportive of the proposed legislation.

“CARP members understand this issue intimately because they are the ones answering the door and meeting these unscrupulous sales people face to face. CARP calls for all-party support of this important legislation, which offers the needed legal protection for Ontarians who continue to be victimized by those who rely on high pressure and dishonest tactics to scare customers into non-competitive contracts. CARP will continue to support MPP Baker and Bill 193,” said Wade Poziomka, Director of Policy at CARP.

This added protection would be especially valuable to vulnerable seniors in Ontario who are often pressured by the salesperson at their door and do not take the time to compare product information, such as price, warranty, financing rates or contract terms.  This legislation will go a long way to putting those underhanded companies out of business, improving the landscape for the reputable dealers.

Manufactures and dealers of furnaces, air-conditioners, water heater and water treatment systems would still be able to offer their goods and services at the door under the proposed legislation, but any contract signed within the home would be invalid.  The legislation does not prevent door to door solicitations on behalf of political candidates, charities, religious organizations or any other community groups or businesses.

CARP further recommends a financial cap be placed on all contracts signed in the home to prevent the bad actors from switching to another product line and continuing their door to door rip-offs.

 For more information:

Wade Poziomka
Director, Policy & General Counsel
416-607-2471
[email protected]

Anthony Quinn
Director, Operations & Public Relations
416-607-2474
[email protected]

CARP is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to advocating for a New Vision of Aging for Canada, social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination. CARP seeks to ensure that the marketplace serves the needs and expectations of our generation and provides value-added benefits, products and services to our members. Through our network of chapters across Canada, CARP is dedicated to building a sense of community and shared values among our members in support of CARP’s mission. www.carp.ca