LEON’S, BRICK TO DONATE FURNITURE OVER DECEPTIVE ADS

The Competition Bureau said Tuesday it has reached an agreement with Leon’s Furniture Ltd. and the Brick Ltd. regarding allegations of deceptive marketing practices dating back nearly five years. As part of the settlement, Leon’s and the Brick have agreed to each donate $750,000 worth of home furnishings over two years to charities to be approved by the regulator. The bureau alleged in July 2013 that the retailers’ “buy now, pay later” promotions, often resulted in customers paying more than advertised and should be stopped. It said that customers who chose the deferred-payment option often ended up paying more than those who paid for their purchases up front as a result of the additional fees, which were “buried” by the retailers in the “fine print.” Leon’s owns the Brick.