Ottawa energy retailer faces 63 charges

Six customers launched consumer complaints

An Ottawa energy retailer and its directors are facing 63 charges under the Consumer Protection Act over its practice of renting water heaters and furnaces and selling air conditioners door-to-door.

Ontario Consumers Home Services and its directors are charged after six customers from Ottawa, Nepean, Orléans and Hawkesbury complained to the provincial Ministry of Consumer Services.

The complaints allege the Toronto-based company’s Ottawa agents led customers to believe they were getting a house call from their existing service provider, or that the company was taking their account over from another service provider; that they were conducting government-mandated inspections; or that the customers might be eligible for upgrades to their service.

The complaints also claim Ontario Consumers’ agents used high-pressure sales tactics, promised improved products and services for less money, and misled customers into thinking they had no right to cancel agreements with the company.

Customers who signed up with Ontario Consumers allegedly had their existing equipment removed from their homes by the company’s technicians, which often led to their being double-billed by both Ontario Consumers and their previous service provider.

When the customers tried to cancel their agreements with Ontario Consumers, the ministry alleges they were subject to removal fees.

The directors charged are Vassili Tatarinov, Margarita Tatarinova, Maria Pevzner and Vitali Godonooga.

The ministry is continuing to investigate complaints from other jurisdictions against the company to see whether further charges should be laid. The Consumer Protection Act allows fines of up to $250,000 for companies and $50,000 for individuals if convicted, as well as compensation for victims and potential jail terms of as much as two years less a day.

Lawyer Pradeep Chand of the Toronto law firm Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP issued a statement late Friday saying, “Our clients fully intend to defend the allegations in a court of law.”

A first court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 28 in Ottawa.