Rights of consumers or obligations of businesses:

Consumer Loans

- Lenders (except banks, which are federally regulated) must obtain a permit and meet criteria to qualify for the permit.

- Distributing false or misleading information is prohibited.

- Borrowers are entitled to receive comprehensive information about the loan (ie the cost of borrowing other fees, interest rate) before entering into a contract.

- A broker or agent cannot accept money for arranging a loan unless the borrower has actually received the loan.

- Advertising must be accurate and include key information about the transaction.

- Consumers cannot be asked to waive their rights under the Act.

Consumer Purchases

- A consumer is not liable for any charge for use, misuse, loss, damage or theft for any unsolicited goods.

- Negative option strategies are prohibited. This is where a supplier might inform you that effective a certain date, they are going to start providing you with their product unless you contact them to decline.

- In every consumer purchase, the consumer has the right to assume:

- the seller has the right to sell the goods
- the purchaser shall have quiet possession of the goods
- a third party isn't owed money for the goods
- when goods are sold by description, that the goods actually match the description
- if a consumer tells the seller how they want to use the goods, and the consumer relies on the seller's skill or judgment in this area, the goods shall be reasonably fit for that purpose
- when a sale is based on seeing a sample, the product must match the sample in quality
- the goods are of saleable quality, except for any noted defects
- the goods are purchased new and unused, unless otherwise described

- Consumers cannot sign away their rights under this Act.

- An express warranty on an automobile can be part of a contract, or appear as a public statement (ie an advertisement). This public statement is considered to form part of the contract.

- The subsequent owner of an automobile has the same rights under the express warranty as if they were the original purchaser. No fee can be charged for a warranty transfer.

Please refer to the Act and regulations if you need a complete description of consumer rights.