Consumer News

Check back here for all the latest news happenings in the area of consumer law.

New Consumer Webinars

Participate in upcoming CLEONet Webinars, presented by Margaret Capes, on:

Motor Vehicle Repairs (March 22, 2010)
Pre-paid services (April 12, 2010)
Cell phone contracts (May 17, 2010)

If you cannot participate in the live webinars, you can still view them online when CLEONet posts them on their Legal Education Webinar Archive.

Changes to Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act re: Student Loans

October 2008

There has been an amendment to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA). Student Loans can now be included in the debt with the bankruptcy after 7 years of ceasing your part time or full time studies. (Before they could only be included after 10 years from being a full time or part time student.)

See our Fall 2008 newsletter (page 7) for details.

Catch the con: How to tell if you're a target

Toronto Star, February 26, 2007

Some important tips from PhoneBusters on how to recognize a scam. It could be a scam if:

It sounds too good to be true.

You must pay or you can't play. You've won something but need to send money to
get it.

You must give the caller your private financial information.

The caller insists you send cash or a money order, not a cheque.

The caller is trying to get you excited about a great opportunity.

The person calling claims to be a tax official, banking officer or someone with the
authority to ask personal questions.

The stranger calling behaves as if he or she is your buddy.

A warning that "You must act immediately or you'll miss out on this offer."

To recognize if a relative or friend is the target of fraudulent telemarketers, PhoneBusters advises watching for:

An increase in mail with too-good-to-be-true offers.

Frequent calls about valuable awards or from unfamiliar charities.

A sudden inability to pay regular bills, or requests for loans.

Banking records showing cheques or withdrawals to unfamiliar companies.

Secretive behaviour about phone calls.

Article by Nancy J. White - Catch the con: How to tell if you're a target - Toronto Star

Latest Consumer News from CLEONet

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