Certain debt settlement service practices are prohibited. Here are some examples.

Premiums, gifts, etc.

No debt settlement service merchants, or any other person, may offer you a premium as an incentive to enter into a debt settlement service contract. In other words, you may not be offered any benefits, discounts or gifts for this purpose.

Credit contracts

When entering into or in the performance of a debt settlement service contract with you, the merchant may not enter into or offer to enter into a credit contract with you, or help or encourage you to enter into such a contract.

Information on debt reduction

A merchant may not claim that your debt will be reduced, unless the creditor has agreed to grant this reduction.

Communications

Debt settlement service merchants are not allowed to:

• restrict communications between you and your creditors;
• disclose any information about you to anyone whomever, other than a creditor to whom you have authorized the merchant to do so or to a person acting as a surety for you.

If you have any problems

If you find yourself in a situation in which these rules are not respected, you can contact the Office the la protection du consommateur to file a complaint.