Consumer Tips

Mail Order

Many consumers are taking advantage of the growing catalogue market in Canada. Catalogue shopping can be a timesaving and satisfactory way to buy goods. However, as with any type of transaction, there are still things that a wise consumer should keep in mind.

Ordering

• Keep a record of the name, address and phone number of the company, the goods you ordered, the date of your order, the amount you paid, and the method of payment.
• Keep a record of any delivery period that was promised.
• If you are told that the shipment will be delayed, write the date of that notice in your records and the new shipping date, if you've agreed to wait longer.
• To limit unwanted mail, sign up with the free Do Not Contact service operated by the Canadian Marketing Association, a private trade group. The Association will instruct its mail-marketing members to take you off their lists.

Unsolicited Goods

You are under no obligation to accept or pay for any merchandise you receive in the mail that you did not order.

In most provinces and territories, when the sender asks for the merchandise back you must return it at the sender's expense; however, in some provinces and territories you cannot be required to pay for the goods or services unless you agreed to do so in writing.

To complain about unsolicited goods, contact your provincial or territorial consumer protection agency.

Mail Fraud

• Read the offer carefully. Get the advice of another person whose opinion you trust.
• Deal only with companies or charities whose reputation and integrity are known.
• Never give out your credit card number or personal, financial or employment information unless you know with whom you are dealing.
• Never send money for any "free" merchandise or services.
• Be suspicious of "free gifts" that require a "tax payment" or "registration fee," sweepstakes requiring an entry fee or purchase, employment or work-at-home opportunities requiring a fee, offers requiring your credit card number or bank account number, loans that require you to pay a fee in advance, mailings that look like they are from official government agencies when they are not, and prize notices requiring you to call a 1-900 number.
• Be careful about making impulse purchases.
• Keep a record of the order, notes of the conversation and copies of the advertisement, cancelled cheque, receipt, letters and envelopes.
• Take the time to compare the products, services and prices to those of similar products in local stores.
• Check out the company with your provincial or territorial consumer protection agency. Mail fraud is a crime.