Being a Guarantor is a big responsibility that can have serious consequences. This booklet will help you understand all that is involved in being a Guarantor.
When you are buying goods and services, sometimes you can have problems. These resources may help you deal with concerns about product safety, returns and exchanges, unfair business practices, or other consumer complaints.
The resources on this page were hand-picked by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta's staff as a good place to start.
You may also find helpful resources listed under these legal topics: Consumer protection and fraud, and Credit and debt
CPLEA Suggested Resources
Not sure where to begin finding answers to your questions. Get started with our suggested resources. See additional resources below for more information.
These FAQs are provided by the Canadian Legal FAQs, a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. They provide answers to questions about consumer law in Alberta including the Fair Trading Act, collections and debt repayment, cost of credit disclosure, and credit and personal reports. See also FAQs on Contracts and Consumer Information
The OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance (OLHI) is a free, fast, independent, and impartial alternative dispute resolution public service for Canadian life and health insurance consumers.
OLHI provides accurate and accessible information about life and health insurance concerns.
This includes guiding consumers through the complaints process, answering their questions, and helping them find lost policies or policies of deceased loved ones.
Alberta Resources
The Farmers Advocate Office works to ensure rural Albertans have consumer protection, rural opportunities and fair process. We administer the Farm Implement Act that provides consumer protection through warranty, parts availability and licensing provisions, including inspection to assist in FIB proceedings. Rural opportunity is realized through assisting landowners with managing their land asset, mitigating business risk and maximizing future economic opportunity as it relates to interaction with the energy industry. Fair process is facilitated through the development and implementation of peer oriented appeal processes.
The Consumer Bill of Rights outlines the protections that consumers have when buying goods or signing contracts.
The Alberta Securities Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province’s securities laws. This page provides information on how to file a complaint. ASC use complaints filed by the public as well as other means to identify potential breaches of securities laws, and take enforcement action including investigating and prosecuting either administratively or quasi-criminally, as appropriate, to protect investors and the integrity of Alberta’s capital market.
The General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that has been in operation since 2002 providing dispute resolution services for conflicts between complainants and their insurers in the areas of home, auto and business insurance. GIO’s neutral and professional mediators and experienced Information Officers help complainants and insurance companies work toward a solution that is in the best interests of both parties in a fair, independent and impartial environment. (PDF - 2 pages)
If you buy or sell goods through a public auction in Alberta, it is important to know that the business holding the auction must be licensed by the province and post security. The Fair Trading Act, the Public Auctions Regulation and Section 57 of the Sale of Goods Act regulate public auction businesses in Alberta. This tipsheet outlines the rules and regulations that must be followed by Alberta businesses that sell goods by public auction.
Summary, collision worksheet form, tips to remember and steps to follow after an automobile collision.
The Time Share and Points-Based Contracts and Business Regulation under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) sets out the rules for businesses selling time share.
The Alberta Securities Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province’s securities laws. This page provides a link to "Spot the red flags" informaton on how to recognize and avoid investment scams.
In Alberta, most companies that sell products door-to-door must be licensed under the Consumer Protection Act and the Direct Selling Business Licensing Regulation. Door-to-door sales people sell everything from encyclopedias and magazines to home improvements. If a contract is signed in person,negotiated or concluded away from the seller’s usual place of business, it is considered a direct sale. Note: Effective January 1, 2017, the Government of Alberta banned door-to-door sales of furnaces and related products and services including water heaters, air conditioners, windows, energy contracts and energy audits. See: https://www.servicealberta.ca/pdf/tipsheets/Door_to_Door_Energy_related_Sales.pdf for more information.
Gift cards purchased in Alberta are not subject to expiry dates and fees that lower their value over time. This tipsheet provides information on the Alberta Gift Card Regulation, which is part of the Consumer Protection Act,. It also includes information on other rules that help to improve consumer protections, use of the cards and disclosure of terms and conditions.
When someone uses personal information such as your name, Social Insurance number (SIN), credit card number or other identifying information without your knowledge or permission, it is identity theft and it is a crime. This tipsheet provides information on: how businesses and community groups can raise awarenes of identity theft, how to protect your identity when you are away from home, and how to report ID theft.
This tipsheet provindes information to help Albertans protect themselves from being an unwilling participant in mortgage fraud. If you are going to invest in real estate, make sure you are using a licensed mortgage broker is is registered under the Real Estate Act in Alberta.
This colourful information sheet provides legal information about payday loans and debt problems for all ages and can be folded to fit comfortably in a wallet. (Dimensions 9cm x 43cm)
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