Search the Consumer Beware List

rcooke · July 22, 2016, 2:55pm

https://www.ontario.ca/page/search-consumer-beware-list#section-0
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                      **[FONT=Helvetica]Search the Consumer Beware List[/FONT]**
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Check a business’ track record before dealing with them by searching Ontario’s Consumer Beware List or reading recent convictions and compliance notices.

[FONT=“Times New Roman”]On this page [/FONT]

[FONT=“inherit”]Check recent convictions and compliance notices](https://www.ontario.ca/page/search-consumer-beware-list#section-0)
[/FONT] - [FONT=“inherit”]FAQs](https://www.ontario.ca/page/search-consumer-beware-list#section-1)
[/FONT]

The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services maintains this searchable list of businesses that have either:
[FONT=“inherit”]not answered to the ministry after they were sent 2 notifications about a consumer complaint[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]been charged or convicted in relation to the Consumer Protection Act](https://www.ontario.ca/consumers/your-rights-under-consumer-protection-act) or other acts of the ministry
[/FONT]

Information about a business will remain on the Consumer Beware List between 21 to 27 months.
Search the Consumer Beware List](http://www.consumerbeware.mgs.gov.on.ca/catsct/start.do?lang=en)
How can I remove my business from the Consumer Beware List?](https://www.ontario.ca/consumers/how-can-i-get-information-about-business-removed-consumer-beware-list)
[FONT=Helvetica]Check recent convictions and compliance notices[/FONT]

The businesses or individuals below have either been convicted under the Consumer Protection Act or other legislation under the ministry, or they’ve signed an agreement to comply with the ministry’s requests to change their businesses practices.
Conviction and compliance notices are posted for 27 months.
View recent convictions](http://news.ontario.ca/en/search/?keywords=mcs-convictions)

[FONT=Helvetica]Frequently asked questions [/FONT]

[FONT=“inherit”]How can I get information about a business removed from the Consumer Beware List? [/FONT]

The Ministry of Consumer Services will inform the business about a complaint by sending up to 2 notifications. The business must take action by doing one of the following:

[LIST]

[FONT=“inherit”]respond to the ministry and address the issue of the complaint[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]resolve the situation to the satisfaction of the consumer[/FONT]

[/LIST]
If the business does not take action after the second notification, the business name and related information is added to the Consumer Beware List.
Information will be removed from the Consumer Beware List if the business:

[LIST]

[FONT=“inherit”]did not receive notice of the complaint from the ministry[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]resolved the situation to the satisfaction of the person who filed the complaint[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]responded to the issue in the complaint[/FONT]

[/LIST]
Information relating to a charge will be removed if the business has been found not guilty of that charge.
To make a correction to the Consumer Beware List, you can write to the ministry’s Consumer Protection Branch and ask for the changes.
Send your change request to:
Ministry of Consumer Services
Consumer Services, Analytics and Partnerships Branch
Box 450
87 Sir William Hearst Avenue
North York, ON M3M 0B4

[FONT=“inherit”]How can I appeal a claim decision made by OMVIC, Tarion or TICO? [/FONT]

Check if the organization has an internal process for appealing a compensation claim decision.
You can also appeal some compensation claim decisions to the Licence Appeal Tribunal](http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/lat/english/Pages/default.aspx) (LAT), an independent and neutral agency.
You should note that you may have limited time to submit an appeal with LAT. For example, once you are notified of a claim decision, you usually have to make an appeal within 15 days.
While the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services oversees various administrative authorities, the ministry is unable to intervene in individual claim decisions.

[FONT=“inherit”]How can I protect myself from mortgage fraud? [/FONT]

To avoid unknowingly taking part in a mortgage fraud, be suspicious if you are:

[LIST]

[FONT=“inherit”]asked to say that you make more money than you really do[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]asked to lie about whether you will live in a property or rent it out[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]asked to sign documents that have blanks, or asked not to fill out certain sections of a form or document[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]offered a fee for the use of your name and credit information[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]discouraged from visiting the property, or having it appraised or inspected[/FONT]

[/LIST]
If a registered real estate professional commits mortgage fraud, The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) can take away their registration or prosecute them.
See RECO’s website for more information on mortgage fraud](http://www.reco.on.ca/).

[FONT=“inherit”]What do I need to know before hiring an electrical contractor? [/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica]Hiring an electrical contractor[/FONT]

Before you hire an electrical contractor, make sure to:

[LIST]

[FONT=“inherit”]note their Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)/Electrical Contractor Registration Agency (ECRA) licence number[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]check that their work vehicle displays the ESA/ECRA licence number[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]get a written cost estimate of the work that includes the ESA/ECRA licence number and ESA permit fees[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]check references[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]confirm that they will get a certificate of inspection, if necessary, when the work is complete[/FONT]

[/LIST]
Find a licenced contractor using Electrical Safety Authority’s database](http://www.esasafe.com/pluginsafely/hire-a-contractor/).
Electrical Safety Authority is responsible for administering the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, licensing electrical contractors and master electricians, training inspectors, and conducting safety inspections of electrical installations and electrical incident investigations.
This means that in Ontario:

[LIST]

[FONT=“inherit”]a person can’t operate an electrical contracting business without an electrical contractor licence issued by ESA[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]a person can’t take on the responsibility of a master electrician without a master electrician licence issued by ESA[/FONT]

[/LIST]
If you suspect that an electrical contractor or master electrician is operating without an ESA licence, contact the Electrical Safety Authority](http://www.esasafe.com/licensing/compliance/complaints). This helps prevent unsafe practices that can result in injury to people and damage to property.
Learn more your rights and responsibilities when doing home renovations or repairs](https://www.ontario.ca/consumers/home-renovations-and-repairs).

[FONT=“inherit”]What do administrative authorities do? [/FONT]

Administrative authorities are responsible for ensuring that a number of Ontario’s consumer protection and public safety laws are applied and enforced.
The government oversees administrative authorities and is responsible for making or changing the acts that are applied and enforced by the administrative authorities.
Currently, the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services oversees 9 administrative authorities:

[LIST]

[FONT=“inherit”]Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO)](http://www.bereavementauthorityontario.ca/)
[/FONT] - [FONT=“inherit”]Ontario Film Authority (OFA)[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]Ontario One Call (ON1Call)[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC)[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO)[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]Tarion Warranty Corporation[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA)[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)[/FONT]
[FONT=“inherit”]Vintners Quality Alliance Ontario (VQA)[/FONT]

[/LIST]
Contact an administrative authority directly if you have any questions or complaints about the sector that they are responsible for or any decisions that they have taken.
Some administrative authorities are responsible for compensation funds. If you have made a claim with an administrative authority and disagree with its decision, you may be able to make an appeal to the Licence Appeal Tribunal](http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/lat/english/Pages/default.aspx) (LAT), an independent and neutral agency.
You may also contact the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services](https://www.ontario.ca/contact-us) if you have a complaint about an administrative authority.

[FONT=“inherit”]What are some common home renovation scams? [/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica]The Door-to-Door Game[/FONT]

In this scam, a door-to-door salesperson offers you a “good deal” because “we just happen to be in the neighbourhood with all our material and equipment.” The contract usually has to be signed right away to get the special price.
Or, a salesperson may offer to “inspect” your furnace, chimney or roof, free of charge. Afterwards, you are told that immediate and expensive repair work must be done. The individual then offers to do the work and has a contract ready for you to sign.
[FONT=Helvetica]The Disappearing Contractor[/FONT]

Never let a contractor talk you into making a large down payment “to pay for materials.” The contractor may cash in the deposit and never finish – or even begin – the job they were hired to do.
Keep down-payments to a minimum (we recommend 10%) and never pay the full amount of the contract before the work is all done. Remember, legitimate home renovation companies have enough credit to buy the materials they need.
[FONT=Helvetica]The Paper-Free Deal [/FONT]

Not having the right paperwork – estimates, contracts, professional licences, building permits – is a warning sign that a contractor is not reputable.
A contract is your best protection as a consumer.
It’s also a good idea to avoid cash deals. Although they can be appealing, if anything goes wrong with your project, you won’t have proof of payment without a receipt.
Remember, reputable companies comply with the law. A professional licence shows that a contractor is qualified to do the work you’re hiring him or her to do – like plumbing or electrical. Building permits allow your municipality to make sure that any work you have

rcooke · July 22, 2016, 3:33pm

I saw no home Inspectors … Great .

pauriol · July 22, 2016, 4:15pm

Good informational post - Thank you.

glarin · July 23, 2016, 1:58am

Thanks Roy!!
G