AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE DISPUTES
A three-step dispute resolution process will help address motorists' concerns with their insurance policies.
1. Talk to your broker or agent first. If you're not satisfied, file a complaint with your insurer. A complaint liaison officer will review your case. The name and phone number of the officer for your company is listed at www.autoinsurance.gov.ab.ca.
2. If you're not satisfied with the company's final position, ask the General Insurance Ombudservice to look into the matter by calling toll free at 1-888-421-4212. The information officers will resolve your complaint or assign an independent mediator.
3. Apply to the Automobile Insurance Dispute Resolution Committee at 780-427-8322 or call Service Alberta toll-free at 310-4455 and ask for the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance. The committee will review the case and attempt to resolve the dispute. It may refer the case to an arbitrator. The arbitrator's decision will be binding.
COLLECTION AGENCIES
The Fair Trading Act of Alberta requires all collection agencies and the collectors working for them to be licenced. The Act can provide some protection for consumers from abusive collection practices.
Rules for Collection Agencies- • They may contact you at home or work to collect a debt, however they can only phone between 7.00 AM and 10.00 PM.
- • They can't call you or your family so often that the number of calls could be considered harassment.
- • They can't discuss the debt with your friends, neighbours, family or employer.
- • They can't contact your employer except to confirm your employment status, business title and address of the business in preparation for legal proceedings.
- • They can't continue to contact you at work if you have asked them not to. However, you must make other arrangements to pay the debt.
- • They can't give false or misleading information.
- • They must have permission from the creditor to take you to court.
- • They must give you a statement of account if you ask for it.
- • They cannot attempt to collect a non-judgment debt where the last payment or written acknowledgement is more than six years previous.
- • They must update or correct any information they have filed with credit reporting agencies.
- • They can't speak with you about the debt or leave messages for you more than three times in any seven day period.
HOME RENOVATIONS AND REPAIR
Check if a Business is Properly Licenced:Service Alberta: 780-427-4088 or toll-free at 1-877-427-4088www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/183.cfm Check Business HistoryBetter Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta: 780-482-2341 or toll-free at 1-800-232-7298www.edmonton.bbb.org Check If a Contractor or Business Is In Good StandingAlberta Home Builders' Association: 780-424-5890 or toll-free at 1-800-661-3348 Before You Hire- • Ask for references
- • Check for proper certification and licences
- • Get several written estimates
- • Protect yourself from liens (have a registry agent do a search)
- • Make sure the contract is detailed. Put everything in writing
- •Check for a Prepaid Contractor's Licence
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
Landlords and tenants can get answers to their questions from the local Landlord and Tenant Advisory Board. Edmonton: 780-496-5959Fort McMurray: 780-743-5000Red Deer: 403-343-0410 Service Alberta can investigate complaints against landlords and tenants.Call 780-427-4088 or toll-free at 1-877-427-4088.You can also log onto www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca. TELEMARKETING PROBLEMS
How to Stop Telemarketing Calls and Faxes: 1. You can now sign up for Canada's National Do Not Call List. Just call 1-866-580-DNCL (3625) or log onto www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada's National Do Not Call List, log ontowww.crtc.gc.ca/ENG/DNCL/brochure_consumer.htm.
If a Canadian company continues to call someone on the Do Not Call List, it may be slapped with a hefty fine. As well, there are exceptions to this law. Charities, political parties, polling organizations, newspapers, and companies you're already doing business with are exempt.
You can also try the following to stop unwanted telemarketing calls and faxes:
2. Contact the telemarketing company directly and ask to be put on its own "do not call" list. 3. If the calls keep coming, contact your telephone company for assistance. 4. Report nuisance telemarketers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.Call toll-free at 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.crtc.gc.ca 5. Register to have your telephone number removed from marketing lists by mailing your request to the Canadian Marketing Association.P.O. Box 706Don Mills, OntarioM3C 2T6Fax: (416) 441-4062 6. Complete a form at www.the-cma.org (Not all telemarketers belong to the CMA, so this will not eliminate all unsolicited calls.) TRAVEL CLUB CONCERNS
The Fair Trading Act regulates travel club businesses. Provincial legislation requires these businesses to have a travel club licence. To check to see if a travel club is licenced, go to this page on Service Alberta's website:www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/183.cfm. You can also call the Consumer Info Line at 780-427-4088 or toll-free in Alberta at 1-877-427-4088.
The regulation gives consumers 10 days from the day after you receive a copy of the signed contract to cancel the agreement. You do not need a reason to cancel the contract. The travel club operator then has 15 days from the date of cancellation to refund all the money paid by you under the agreement. If you don't receive your refund within 15 days, contact Service Alberta as soon as possible.
Before You Sign:
- • Do you have enough information to make an informed decision?
- • Do you know who you are dealing with? What is the company's reputation?
- • Don't be rushed into making a decision. A reputable business will give you time to decide and answer any questions you might have.
VEHICLE CONCERNS
The Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council administers and enforces automotive industry regulations under Alberta's Fair Trading Act. Businesses that are involved in the buying, selling, or leasing, repair and maintenance of automobiles, trucks, or recreation vehicles in Alberta must be licenced by AMVIC. Businesses that sell motor vehicles must employ salespersons that are registered by AMVIC.
AMVIC encourages consumers to call with complaints and concerns about everything from used car sales, to mechanics, and repair shops.For Investigations (toll-free): 1-877-979-8100For Licencing (toll-free): 1-877-979-8100 Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council's Edmonton OfficeSuite #303, 9945-50 St.Edmonton, AlbertaT6A 0L4Phone: 780-466-1140Fax: 780-462-0633
The Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan is a program in which disputes between consumers and vehicle manufacturers can be put before a neutral third party (arbitrator) for resolution. The disputes pertain to alleged manufacturing defects, or the implementation of a manufacturer's new vehicle warranty
Alberta Arbitration & Mediation Services Inc.Suite #405, 10707-100 Ave.University of Lethbridge BuildingEdmonton, AlbertaT5J 3M1Call 780-439-9359 or toll-free at 1-800-207-0685Fax: 780-433-9024E-mail: [email protected]
OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES
• Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC)
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• CarProof - Vehicle History Information
• CARFAX - Used Car VIN Search, Auto History Check, Vehicle History Reports
• easyWhois - Research Domains and DNS Information
• Equifax - Credit Reports, Credit Scores
• Service Alberta
• Snopes - Urban Legends Reference Pages
• TransUnion Canada - Credit Score Information
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