TORONTO – The Ontario government says it’s taking steps to provide consumers with more protection against aggressive, high pressure, door-to-door salespeople.
The Liberals say they plan to introduce legislation to impose new rules for dealing fairly with door-to-door sales, particularly water heater rentals.
The Liberals are proposing doubling the existing 10-day cooling-off period to 20 days, so that consumers have more time to consider a decision made on their doorstep.
The bill would ban delivery and installation of water heaters during the cooling-off period, and require the supplier to pay all cancellation fees if the cooling-off period isn’t observed.
The government also wants companies to confirm sales by making scripted and recorded telephone calls to the customer to disclose key contract terms in clear, easy-to-understand language.
The government says the reforms focus on water heater contracts because it received more than 3,200 written complaints and verbal inquiries about door-to-door water heater rentals last year.
Minister of Consumer Services Tracy MacCharles says the legislation will help protect families, seniors and newcomers when they make purchases at their front doors.
“By focusing on door-to-door water heater sales, we’re taking action on an important consumer concern,” she said.
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