Issues and Activities

Economics & Finance

Financing a Car?

March 10, 2016

DON’T FINANCE THE PURCHASE A VEHICLE UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS RECENTLY RELEASED REPORT BY THE FINANCIAL CONSUMER AGENCY OF CANADA.

English version here, and french version here.

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Proposed Settlements in Auto Parts -Fixing Class Actions

January 14, 2016

NOTICE OF CERTIFICATION FOR SETTLEMENT PURPOSES AND SETTLEMENT APPROVAL HEARING IN THE CANADIAN AUTO PARTS PRICE-FIXING CLASS ACTIONS

If you bought or leased a new or used vehicle, or certain automotive parts, since January 1, 1999, you should read the following notices carefully. It may affect your legal rights.

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Consumers’ Association of Canada Opposes Bill s-202

October 9, 2014

The Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC) presented its opposition to bill s-202 today to the Senate Standing Committee with respect to bill s-202.

"This is a bill designed for merchants. We are perplexed that government is proposing to intervene in the credit card market in a manner that puts the interests of merchants ahead of those of consumers. We are also tired of hearing claims that both the government and retailers are acting in our (consumers') interest when this is not a consumer concern", says Mel Fruitman.

Click here for the full presentation. French version is here.

CAC Contacts:

Bruce Cran, President
604-418-8359

Mel Fruitman
Vice President
905-832-3909

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Statement from the Consumers’ Association of Canada on Anti-Consumer Bill Before the Senate

OTTAWA (May 28, 2014): Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers Association of Canada (CAC), released the following statement on the eve of the Senate Banking Committee beginning its study of Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Payment Card Networks Act (credit card acceptance fees), which is sponsored by Senator Pierrette Ringuette.  The Bill seeks government intervention in the market to regulate the price merchants pay for credit card acceptance.

“The CAC is disappointed that Parliament is debating a bill that seeks to enrich merchants at the expense of consumers.  The fees retailers pay to accept credit cards are a normal cost of doing business that merchants make a conscious decision to incur to improve their customer experience.  Merchants continually downplay the benefits of accepting credit cards while seeking measures like Bill S-202 that would dump those costs onto their customers.

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Poll Shows Consumers Support Competition Tribunal Decision

Poll Shows Consumers Support Competition Tribunal Decision Time for Merchants to use the Tools Already at their Disposal to Control Credit Card Acceptance Costs 
 
August 26 (OTTAWA): The Consumers Association of Canada (CAC) released new polling 
today that shows consumers overwhelmingly support the decision of the Competition Tribunal to 
reject a challenge of rules put in place by MasterCard and Visa to protect consumers. 

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