Canadian Consumer Handbook 2006

Consumers may complain to the federal government about any of these practices even when they have no intention of buying the product.

• Misleading advertising occurs when a representation related to a product or service is deliberately false or misleading in order to persuade the consumer to buy it.
• Double ticketing (charging the higher of two prices) occurs when a seller represents two or more prices on a product or service and the consumer is not charged the lowest price.
• Pyramid selling is a multilevel marketing plan that uses certain specific deceptive means to obtain money.
• Bait and switch occurs when a seller attracts customers by advertising a certain product or service at a bargain price, but does not supply the advertised product or service in reasonable quantities with the purpose of persuading the customer to purchase a more expensive item.

Consumers may contact the Competition Bureau to file a complaint or obtain additional information at 1-800-348-5358. You may contact your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office. When the matter relates to the labelling of food, contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Consumers who make a purchase are also protected by laws that prohibit unfair or deceptive trade practices.

Please also see the sections on:

• advance fee scams
• consumer privacy
• contracts
• fraud
• multilevel marketing

Finally, you have the option of complaining to a non-governmental body, Advertising Standards Canada. It is made up of advertisers, representatives from advertising agencies and the media, and consumers. It discourages false or misleading advertising by its members through codes of behaviour.

Advertising Standards Canada

175 Bloor Street East, South Tower, Suite 1801
Toronto, ON M4W 3R8
Tel.: (416) 961-6311
Fax: (416) 961-7904
Email: info@adstandards.com
Website: www.adstandards.com