Common situations
- Home renovation, repair or improvement contracts
- Vehicle purchases, repairs and financing
- Services paid for in advance and not delivered
- Statements about goods or services that turned out to be untrue
- Contracts signed under pressure, or with terms that were not explained
- A business responding to a consumer’s claim or cancellation notice
How these disputes work
A consumer dispute usually combines contract law with Ontario’s consumer protection legislation, which adds rules about unfair practices, disclosure and cancellation for many agreements. Some rights depend on giving written notice within a fixed time, so the dates matter.
What happens next
- Gather the agreement, receipts and messages, including any advertising or statements relied on.
- Check the time limits for any cancellation notice.
- Send a clear written demand or notice.
- Choose the forum, usually Small Claims Court for claims within its limit, otherwise the Superior Court of Justice.
Questions we are often asked
- What counts as an unfair practice?
- Ontario's consumer protection legislation prohibits false, misleading or deceptive representations and unconscionable conduct, such as taking advantage of a consumer's inability to understand the agreement or applying undue pressure.
- Can I cancel a consumer contract?
- Sometimes. Certain kinds of agreements carry cooling-off periods, and a consumer who entered an agreement after an unfair practice may be entitled to cancel it and recover payment, subject to time limits for giving notice.
- Does consumer protection law apply to businesses?
- Mostly it protects individuals acting for personal, family or household purposes. A business buying for business purposes usually relies on contract law instead.
- Do I need a lawyer for a consumer dispute?
- Not always. Many consumer disputes are suitable for Small Claims Court. A lawyer can help decide whether the claim is worth pursuing, prepare a clear demand, or act where the amount or the issues are larger.
General information about Ontario law, not legal advice about your situation. Time limits can be short; if you are unsure, speak with a lawyer promptly.