Ottawa Contractor Sentenced to 71 Days in Jail
NEWS
September 1, 2011
An Ottawa-area contractor, Philip Slobodzian, has been sentenced to 71 days in jail and his company, PSC New Home Construction Inc., has been fined $90,000 for violating Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act.
Between March 2009 and May 2010, Slobodzian entered into contracts to replace roofs and shingles on the properties of several Ottawa area homeowners. In many of the cases, Slobodzian failed to perform the work or removed existing shingles and siding and failed to deliver new materials. Further, he behaved in an intimidating manner with customers and failed to acknowledge their complaints.
The court found Slobodzian and PSC New Home Construction Inc. guilty of:
- engaging in unfair practices by making false, misleading or deceptive consumer representation;
- failing to provide consumers with a direct agreement containing information required under the Consumer Protection Act;
- failing to refund consumers within 15 days of being given notice of cancellation of their consumer agreements.
Upon completion of his jail sentence, Slobodzian will be placed on two years’ probation. As part of his probation, he has been ordered to perform 75 hours of community service and pay restitution of $37,946 to five homeowners.
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
- Visit Ministry of Consumer Services for tips and advice on how to be a smart consumer.
