The Ontario Energy Group and its director, Eugene Farber, have been charged with 142 counts of violating the Consumer Protection Act, following a probe into hundreds of client complaints against the door-to-door sales firm.
According to City News, charges were laid by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services against the Ontario Energy Group. The company, which sells furnaces, water heaters, and air-conditioners, received a dozen of complaints from consumers due to deceptive practices.
The charges laid against the company and its director include failure to deliver a valid contract, failure to refund as required by the Consumer Protection Act, and using false and misleading practices. The company will be fined with $250,000 for each charge while Eugene Farber faces $50,000 fine and may be jailed up to two years for each conviction.
Anne-Marie Flanagan, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, told CBC News reported that the ministry began getting complaints since 2009. The probe resulted in the charges laid on Friday.
When the province was asked why it took so long for it to act, Flanagan said the ministry needed to take the time to conduct an investigation and make sure everything is done legally. However, she did not mention the exact date the ministry looked into the reports about the company.
The charges are linked to 20 complaints across Ontario that have been leveled against both its director and the company. Desmond Greaves' complaint has led to some of the charges against the firm. The Etobicoke man also alleges Ontario Energy Group promised him a fixed gas rate in April 2014; however, they took out his heating equipment instead and started sending him invoices for what they have installed. He said the company told him that the government had a program and they were supposed to make some adjustment regarding the equipment provided they would be paying a maximum of $119 a month.
Together with the charges, the province also issued an immediate compliance order. The ministry also reminded the consumers to check the Consumer Beware List first before doing business with any company, says Soo Today.
Neither the company nor Farber has yet returned calls for comment. A hearing was scheduled to take place in the Court of Justice in Ontario on May 27.
