Proposed legislation introduced Wednesday would help ensure Manitobans are treated more fairly by holding businesses accountable for unfair practices such as false statements and pressure sales tactics.
Proposed changes to the Business Practices Act would include clearly defining what is considered an unfair practice or misrepresentation.
These would include, among others, holding goods belonging to a consumer as leverage to renegotiate the terms of a transaction; and taking advantage of a consumer when the business knows the consumer cannot protect their own interests because of illiteracy or a language barrier.
The Consumer Protection Office receives more than 15,000 calls or emails a year from consumers and businesses seeking information about their rights or obligations and handles an average of 1,000 formal complaints each year.
Many of these calls concern allegations that a transaction was misleading or takes advantage of a consumer.
