Bots booted from online ticket sales
NDP bill also protects consumers on car repairs, veterinary services
Albertanswillnolongerhave tocompetewithautomatedsoftware when they’re trying to buy tickets to thebiggestsportingandmusicevents.
Ticket bots, which rapidly buy huge quantities of online tickets, will be banned under sweeping changes to consumer protection laws introduced in the legislature Wednesday.
Bill 31 also protects consumers from retaliation if they post a negative review online, tightens the rules for high-cost credit lenders, and will require veterinarians to get approval from a pet’s owner before administering treatment.
Over on the automobile side, mechanics will have to provide written estimates and get approval to make repairs, and it will be mandatory for businesses to disclose a vehicle’s history.
Also, the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council will become a public agency.
Service Alberta Minister Stephanie McLean said the changes will boost consumer confidence and help create a more trusted marketplace.
“The majority of businesses are honest, hardworking and play by the rules,” she said.
“Taken together, these measures will help build a trusted marketplace where consumers are confident to spend their money, and businesses can compete and attract new customers.”
ONLINE TICKET SALES
The biggest change for online sales is banning bots, which are used by resellers to snap up tickets so they can put them back on the market for inflated prices.
Bots lead to tickets selling out at lightning speed, leaving fans without a chance to see their favourite band or sports team.
Bill 31 will require primary ticket sellers like Ticketmaster to do their due diligence around bots, and cancel any tickets bought by such means. If they don’t, they can be slapped with a $300,000 fine or receive a penalty of two years in jail. Secondary sellers like StubHub will be required to provide a guaranteed full refund if an event is cancelled before a ticket is used, the ticket is cancelled, counterfeit or doesn’t match the description.
It also gives those sellers and consumers the power to sue if bots are used.
However, the legislation doesn’t ban people from reselling tickets outright. Officials say that approach wasn’t enforceable in other jurisdictions.
BUSINESSES AND BAD REVIEWS
Under the changes announced Wednesday, consumers will be protected from retaliatory lawsuits and other intimidation tactics if they post negative reviews about a business online (providing the review is in good faith).
When it comes to contracts, businesses will be banned from including clauses about mandatory arbitration or something that stops consumers being able to post a bad review online. Officials say companies from information technology contractors to large pizza companies were using such tactics.
Bill 31 will also allow the government to proactively disclose information about individuals or businesses that aren’t following consumer protection laws.
CAR REPAIRS AND SALES
As well as disclosing a vehicle’s history to the buyer, auto sales businesses will have to use a standard bill of sale.
Mechanics and body shops will have to tell you how much it will cost to repair your vehicle — writing it down if you ask — and require approval from you before they do anything. Bill 31 will also create minimum mandatory warranty protections on repairs.
BIG CHANGES TO AMVIC
The bill will also transition the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council over to a public agency.
Officials say it won’t cost taxpayers anything because AMVIC is self-funded through industry fees and levies.
The change gives government more control over AMVIC’s operations. The minister will be able to dictate the board’s makeup, establish governance rules and make changes to the compensation fund. That won’t help victims of the Treadz scam in Calgary, a vehicle consignment fraud, but the aim is to prevent such problems in the future and assure fair compensation.
VETERINARY SERVICES
Any veterinarian procedures will require approval from pet owners. Vets will also have to disclose all fees for treatment (unless it’s an emergency procedure), but they’ll also be able to advertise their fees.
HIGH- COST CREDIT PRODUCTS
A few changes are proposed for high-credit lenders, now defined as those offering loans that charge more than 32 per cent interest.
They will require a licence to operate and will have to use standard contract formats.
Bill 31 also establishes advertising requirements.