The advertised price must include all the amounts that you are required to pay for the good or service, excluding taxes. This price must be emphasized more than the individual amounts that make up the price. It cannot be increased, unless products or services are added at your request.

Amounts that can be added

Some amounts can be added to the advertised price. Those amounts are required under the provisions of a government act or regulation and must be collected and given to a public authority. For example:

• Québec sales tax (QST);
• goods and services tax (GST).

Prohibited actions associated with advertised prices

All merchants, manufacturers and advertisers are prohibited from:

• only indicating the periodic instalments to pay when purchasing a small household appliance without mentioning the total cost;
• requiring a price that is higher than the advertised price;
• advertising a reduced price when this is not true;
• making consumers believe that the good or service is more competitively priced when you can purchase the same good or service at the same price or at a lower price from another merchant.

Did you run into a problem?

The advertised price is not the price that you are asked to pay. You are entitled to ask to pay for the good or service at the advertised price.

You can also file a complaint with the Office de la protection du consommateur if you realize that a merchant does not respect pricing rules. Go to the Contact us page to find out how you can reach us.

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