The Act lists many types of unfair practices. Essentially, an unfair practice is anything a supplier says or does that is not true and that could negatively affect the consumer. For example, lying about a product’s qualities or price, or pressuring a consumer into buying something. Other unfair practices under Act include: Unduly pressuring or influencing a consumer to enter into a transaction Taking advantage of the consumer because the consumer does not understand the character, nature, language or effect of a transaction Using exaggeration, innuendo or ambiguity about a material fact of a transaction. A material fact is any information that one would expect to affect a consumer’s decisions to enter into a transaction. Charging a price for goods or services that is grossly higher than the price for similar goods and services without telling the consumer of the price difference and reason for the difference Charging a price for goods or services that is more than 10% (to a maximum of $100) higher than estimated. The rule does not apply if: The consumer agrees to the higher price before the goods or services are supplied The consumer asks for more or different goods or services, and the consumer and supplier agree to change the estimate. Charging a fee to provide an estimate for goods or services. This rule does not apply if: The consumer knows ahead of time a fee will be charged and the amount The consumer has agreed to pay the fee. Entering into a transaction if the supplier knows (or should know) the consumer will not get any reasonable benefit from the goods or services Entering into a transaction if the supplier knows (or should know) the consumer is likely not able to pay the full price for the goods or services Including terms or conditions that are harsh, oppressive or excessively one-sided Falsely representing that a transaction involves or does not involve rights, remedies or obligations Doing or saying anything that might mislead the consumer Giving an opinion if the consumer is likely to rely on the opinion to the consumer’s disadvantage Saying that goods or services are something they are not, such as about sponsorship, performance, ingredients, accessories, quantities, uses, benefits, connection to someone, status, quality, standard, etc. Saying the goods are new when they are not, or used when they are not Saying the goods or services are available for a reason that is not true Saying they can supply goods or services when they cannot Saying a second supplier will provide discounted goods or services when the first supplier knows the second supplier will not Saying goods or services will be provided in a time period when the supplier knows they will not Saying a price benefit exists but it does not Saying that a part, replacement, repair or adjustment should or must be done, but it does not Asking for information, conduct a survey or solicit goods for a purpose that is not the case Falsely saying a person does or does not have authority to negotiate a contract Not giving the total price of the goods or services, or emphasize instalment payments over the total price Not fully disclosing or clearly stating all the terms of an ongoing contract, such as duration, changes in price, renewals, extensions, changes, etc. Giving an estimate for goods or services when the goods or services cannot be provided for that price Marketing goods or services in a way that makes the consumer think the price is for more goods or services than is the case Saying the consumer will get a benefit for helping the supplier find other consumers when it is unlikely the consumer will get that benefit Saying that goods are available at a marked down price if reasonable quantities are not available at that price, unless the supplier makes it clear that quantities are limited Advertising or promoting goods or services in an editorial, documentary or scientific report without saying the purpose of the ad is to sell the goods or services Last Reviewed: March 2022