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What are my consumer rights and responsibilities?

As a consumer, you have the right to expect the marketplace to be fair. You also have the responsibility to be fair and deal with problems quickly.

In Ontario, most consumer transactions are governed by laws to protect you and the business offering the goods or services.

Your Rights

As a consumer, some of your basic rights under the Consumer Protection Act are:

• You are entitled to a cooling-off period.
• Remedies must be timely.
• If you are sent goods you did not ask for, you do not have to accept or pay for them.
• Contracts must be clear and comprehensible.
• Sales incentives may not be false, misleading or deceptive.
• Deliveries must be made on time.

Get more information on your rights for specific goods and services, such as auto repair shops, or when you shop online or on the phone.

Your Responsibilities

You also have responsibilities, such as:

• Research and compare products or services before you buy them.
• Check the qualifications of service providers.
• Read and follow product instructions.
• Get what you pay for.

The government also has a responsibility to protect consumers' rights. For more information, read "What is the government's role in protecting my consumer rights?"

Many community agencies can help you with filing a complaint. To find help, go to Services Near Me and search for "legal services" in your area.

For More Information

• Resources on Consumer Protection - Publications on consumer protection topics. Some are available in English and French. From CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario).
• Consumer Beware List - This is a list of businesses that consumers have complained about to the Ministry. You can search for businesses by name or service type. It provides details on the nature of the complaint and if any charges were laid.
• Common Consumer Questions - Information about returns, refunds, deposits, warranties and more. From Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
• National "Do Not Call" List - If you register with this list, most businesses are not allowed to call you at home to sell products and services.

This article contains information from the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.