Home Renovation Contractor Fined $20,000 and Placed on Probation

April 8, 2011

NEWS

On April 1, 2011, Peter Harvey of Barrie Ontario, operating as Crisscon Developments was convicted under Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act and fined a total of $20,000.

Between December 2008 and February 2009 Harvey was contracted to do electrical work and renovations in a Toronto home.  The work was paid for but not completed.  When the homeowner asked for a refund, Harvey did not respond. In addition, the contracts Harvey provided to the homeowner failed to meet the requirements for a direct agreement. 

Harvey was found guilty of:

• failing to provide a consumer with a direct agreement containing the information required by the Consumer Protection Act;
• engaging in an unfair practice by making a false, misleading or deceptive representation; and
• failing to refund payment within fifteen days of being give notice of cancellation of the consumer agreement.

Harvey was placed on probation for two years with a condition that he not enter into home renovation contracts unless properly licensed.  The court also imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

QUICK FACTS 

• Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act provides for fines of up to $250,000 for corporations and $50,000 for individuals convicted of offences. It also provides for jail terms of up to two years less a day for each offence. The act also empowers the court to order offenders to pay compensation or make restitution to victims.

LEARN MORE

• Be a smart consumer. We can help...Call the Ministry of Consumer Services Consumer Protection Branch, 1-800-889-9768 (toll free) or 416-326-8800.