Misleading business practices or false promises made to you in order to urge you to buy something are illegal. They may include:

• false advertising;
• false information given by the merchant verbally or in writing.

False information about prices

It is prohibited for any merchant, manufacturer or advertising firm:

• to advertise a good or service at a reduced price when this is not true;
• to make consumers believe that the price of the good is “the best in town” when you can purchase the same good at the same price or at a lower price from a different merchant.

Problem situation

Did a merchant give you false information regarding the price of a good or service? The law stipulates that recourse is possible when a consumer makes a purchase and the merchant does not respect pricing rules. You must:

1. Inform the merchant of the problem and propose your solution.
2. Formally notify the merchant if you do not reach an agreement. The page about Sending a formal notice explains how to go about it.
3. Ask the court to settle the matter if the merchant does not respond to your request. The page on Presenting a case to the small claims court provides you with detailed information.

You can also contact the Office de la protection du consommateur to find out if you can file a complaint. Go to the Contact us page to find out our contact information.

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