Does the itinerant merchant with whom you are doing business hold a permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur?

Such a permit is mandatory for any salesperson who solicits your business to sell you products or services elsewhere than at his or her place of business. These locations can be your home, a booth or stand on the street or in a shopping centre, etc. A permit is required for any sales of more than $100.

Why deal with a merchant who holds a permit

An itinerant merchant must provide a security deposit to the Office in order to be issued a permit. This security deposit is an amount of money that can be used to compensate you if the merchant fails to meet his or her obligations. For example, the Office would use this security deposit to compensate you if the merchant closes before the paid good or service is provided to you.

How to know if an itinerant merchant holds a permit

To make sure that a merchant holds a permit from the Office, use the Get information about a merchant tool. You can also ask the merchant for his or her permit number. The merchant is required to give you this number.

The permit does not vouch for the honesty of the salesperson, nor does it certify the quality of the products or services. It simply means that the merchant has provided a security deposit to the Office.

Situations in which the merchant is not required to hold a permit

A merchant who conducts a sale at your home, when you asked him or her to come to your home for that purpose, does not require a permit.

Furthermore, merchants do not require a permit if they are in any of the following situations:

• They sell unfrozen food products or insurance.
• They conduct sales:
  • at an agricultural or trade fair,
  • at a public market,
  • at an auction (sale to the highest bidder),
  • by mail, by telephone or online.

Home renovation contractors

A home renovation contractor comes to your home as you requested. The Regulation respecting the application of the Consumer Protection Act considers a home renovation contractor as an itinerant merchant when he or she comes to your home to sell, install or repair:

• doors and windows;
• thermal insulation;
• roofing or exterior wall covering of a building.

You can consult the Choosing a contractor page. It will provide you with useful information.

Top of page

Un entrepreneur en rénovation résidentielle se présente chez vous à votre demande parce que vous êtes prêt à conclure une affaire?

Il a besoin d’un permis de l’Office de la protection du consommateur pour conclure un contrat relatif à la vente, l'installation ou la réparation de :

• portes et fenêtres;
• isolants thermiques;
• couvertures ou revêtements extérieurs d'un bâtiment.

Pour vous assurer que le commerçant détient un permis de l’Office, consultez la section Se renseigner sur un commerçant. Vous pouvez également lui demander son numéro de permis. Il est obligé de vous donner ce numéro.

Le permis n’atteste pas l’honnêteté du vendeur, pas plus qu’il ne témoigne de la qualité de son produit ou de ses services. Il signifie uniquement que le commerçant peut faire du commerce itinérant.

Vous pouvez consulter nos conseils pour choisir un entrepreneur en rénovation. Vous y trouverez de l’information pertinente.

Les contrats de crédit et de location à long terme sont interdits en vente itinérante.

Un commerçant itinérant ne peut donc pas vous offrir de financer votre achat ou de louer un bien à long terme, ni même vous inciter à le faire d’une quelconque façon.

La loi prévoit toutefois des exceptions.

Exceptions

Une entreprise de radiodiffusion ou de télécommunications peut conclure, à votre domicile, un contrat de location à long terme (ex. : pour la location d’un modem).

Une banque ou une coopérative de services financiers peut conclure un contrat de crédit.

Consultez la page sur les contrats interdits pour en savoir plus.

À moins de se prévaloir d’une exception, il est interdit à un commerçant itinérant de conclure ou de participer à la conclusion (offrir de conclure, aider ou inciter à conclure ou solliciter en vue de conclure), même de façon accessoire, des contrats concernant :

• un appareil de chauffage ou de climatisation (ex. : climatiseur, thermopompe, fournaise, système de géothermie, etc.);
• un service de décontamination;
• un service d’isolation.

Cela inclut tout contrat ayant un lien avec l’un de ces biens ou services, par exemple un contrat d’entretien ou de garantie.

Consultez la page sur les contrats interdits pour en savoir plus.

Often, itinerant salespeople show up at your home when you are not ready for them. They may try to make you believe that their offer is a real bargain and that it is a one-time opportunity.

Compare prices

Before entering into a contract with an itinerant merchant, shop around. Compare the quoted price with at least 2 other suppliers to make sure that the merchant’s offer is competitive.

Generally speaking, an offer that is made today should still be valid tomorrow. Is a merchant hurrying you into a contract to have work done based on the fact that he currently has other clients in your neighbourhood? Take the time to think over his offer. The Office de la protection du consommateur recommends that you refrain from signing a contract immediately.

Collect information

It is advisable to ask the representative to give you a copy of the documents associated with the contract that he wishes to sign with you. You will be able to go over the information and appreciate the value of the offer at your leisure.

The Consumer Protection Act clearly indicates the contents of a contract entered into with an itinerant merchant. Before signing it, make sure that your contract contains all the prescribed information. The page dealing with the Contents of a contract with an itinerant merchant lists the information that must be contained in the contract.

The clearer the agreement, the more you can avoid possible problems. Make sure the contents of the contract are in line with what the merchant told you. You can ask him to include any promises he made to you. If he refuses to do so, be cautious.

Itinerant merchants are usually not entitled to require or accept a payment or down payment from you within the 10 days that follow the day you receive the signed copy of your contract. They may do so under only one condition: if they have already given you the good. This rule applies because you are entitled to cancel your contract during this 10-day period.

Having work done

For example, if you are having renovation work done, you should refuse to have the work start before the 10-day period. This way you can avoid any source of conflict should you decide to cancel the contract.

After the 10-day period, it is advisable that you come to an agreement with the merchant so you can pay the merchant in installments, according to the progress of work. You can pay your last installment (between 10 and 15% of the total cost) when the work is completed. In doing so, you will make sure that the work is done to your complete satisfaction.