• Contract concluded in person
• Contract concluded by phone or online

Concluding a detailed agreement with the snow removal company you hire is to your benefit. The more details your contract contains, the better informed you will be regarding what to expect.

Contract concluded in person

The Office de la protection du consommateur recommends you always ask for a written contract. This will allow you to have and maintain proof of your agreement. A written contract will make it easier to assert your rights if you are not satisfied with the company's services.

Information to be found in the contract

The contract does not have to adhere to a specific form, especially if you are doing business with an itinerary merchant. Make sure that everything that was promised by the snow removal company representative is included in the contract, along with all important details.

The contract should include, for example:

• the duration of the contract (set dates: from this date to that date);
• the precise quantity of snow that requires removal (for example, the contract should say "5 cm snowfall minimum" instead of "a snowfall");
• the time by which the snow must be removed;
• the place where the snow should be left (make sure to check municipal bylaws);
• all related tasks, such as spreading salt or sand, clearing access to doors, and so on;
• the total charges and terms of payment.

Contract concluded with an itinerant merchant

Did you sign a contract with an itinerant merchant? If so, it means that they solicited your business outside of their actual offices. They might, for example, have come to your home without your requesting it.

The law prescribes that such a contract must be concluded in writing and that it includes all mandatory information. For further information, refer to the page What a contract with an itinerant merchant contains.

A contract concluded with an itinerant merchant can be cancelled within 10 days. For further information about cancelling this type of contract, refer to the page Cancelling a contract concluded in person.

Contract concluded by phone or online

If you plan on choosing a snow removal company over the phone or online, know that the law provides that a distance contract must be provided in writing.

Information to obtain before signing a contract

Before concluding a contract, the snow removal company must provide certain mandatory information. For example:

• their name, address, phone number and, if available, their fax number and email address;
• a detailed description of the services offered;
• the total amount you will need to pay and, if it applies, the amount to be paid on periodic payments;
• the terms of payment;
• the start date of the snow removal services;
• the duration of the work;
• the cancellation terms, if they are provided for;
• any other condition or restriction that applies to the contract.

Transmission of the written contract

The snow removal company must provide a written contract within 15 days after you entered into an agreement. This will allow you to verify whether the contract's contents correspond to the offer that was made to you. The contract must be presented in a way that allows you to hold on to it.

Content of the written contract

The contract must include your name and your address, the contract signature date, and all the other mandatory information the merchant must provide before you enter into an agreement.

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