To the editor:
With provincial and federal legislation in place to protect consumers, it is concerning that door-to-door sales for energy services are still permitted. In this day we know that many scams are quickly identified and circulated through social media, which means that companies that commit fraudulent activity and pose themselves as using “government endorsed rebates” are targeting those at risk. The companies utilize employees that are young, new to the workforce, and may not be aware of the consequences of their actions. Sadly the worst part of the business plan I just described is that while it’s completely immoral and unethical, it is fully compliant with our municipal bylaws and recognized as a legal entity.
The root issue is not with the business plan, organizational structure, products or services these home services companies offer. The issue is their predatory sales process. While it can be argued they don’t discriminate on the homes they go to, the majority of complaints and buyer’s remorse directed at these companies come from the most marginalized in society and the senior population. These customers are not as aware of the potential unethical practices out there or their rights as consumers. They’re more likely to be persuaded into signing a long-term contract for an air filter or water treatment system under the premise that their additional monthly outlay is net zero. These companies will even go the extra mile and operate under names such as Ontario Home Services to give additional credibility by having it seem like it is a provincially approved organization, to their vague claims of offering utility savings that will subsidize their new product.
I want to thank those in our city who use social media for the better and identify these unethical organizations. We need to build immediate awareness of these awful organizations and spread the word so nobody is left dealing with the financial burden of being manipulated by these companies. I also want to call on city council to revisit the issue of door-to-door sales. I recognize the issue is much larger than our city but we need to protect those most vulnerable and put a stop to this practice. Times have changed. There are no positive social and economic benefits in allowing these organizations to continue to operate in this manner. If we can legally ban email spam this shouldn’t be a major issue to stop.
Robert Jankovic,
Thunder Bay
