Consumer story: cleaning up the pieces of a shady deal

After buying a vacuum from a door-to-door salesperson the day before, Jack* and Evelyn* took a closer look at the contract and noticed something odd.

“My wife and I are both retired seniors with limited means and there were thousands of dollars of extra costs that had not been explained to us,” says Jack. The couple tried to cancel the contract and get their old vacuum back, which had been traded in for a $1,000 credit towards the new one.

“They told me my old vacuum had been sent out for recycling and couldn’t be returned,” says Jack. He told the company he wanted the value of his old vacuum refunded to him, but the company was not cooperating.

“They fought me long and hard,” says Jack. “My wife and I were very upset.” That’s when they reached out to Consumer Protection BC.

The provincial regulator contacted the business on behalf of the couple, stating that Jack and Evelyn had cancelled their contract within the first 10 days and were within their rights to receive a refund. The business relented and wrote them a cheque for $1,000, the trade-in value of their old vacuum.

“[Consumer Protection BC] fought hard for me. My wife and I were so happy,” says Jack. The couple says that they were lucky they kept track of their interactions with the business and encourages others to do the same.

“Be meticulous and keep your information organized,” says Jack, “and contact Consumer Protection BC when you’re stuck.”

*Names changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

Curious about your rights when it comes to door-to-door sales?

Have you ever had someone come to your door to sell you a product or service? These types of contracts are known as direct sales contracts. By law, you have certain rights in these types of transactions. Find out more.

Did you like this? You might like these posts too!

Door-to-door sales: refer a friend, lose a friend?
Salesperson at your door? Know your rights!
Vacuum sales: what you need to know

About Consumer Protection BC

We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.