Protection against aggressive sales practices may be needed: Competition watchdog

OTTAWA – The Competition Bureau of Canada says the country’s telecommunications regulator may have to add measures to protect consumers against misleading or aggressive retail sales practices by the country’s largest phone, cable and internet service providers.

However, in a submission to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Canada’s competition watchdog says the intervention should be done in a way that doesn’t stifle competition.

It recommends that the intervention should be no broader than necessary, be based on the best available evidence, be proportionate to the associated harm and be reviewed regularly.

Consumers have until Sept. 7 to answer an online survey about sales tactics head of public hearings starting on Oct. 22.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, who is responsible for telecommunications, ordered the CRTC investigation in June after media reports and direct complaints about how telecom services are sold.

In particular, the inquiry wants to address complaints that prices for services may be unpredictable or higher than expected and sales messages may result in stress, confusion and frustration.

The CRTC has already collected about 890 comments, mostly from individuals, since mid-July through a more formal intervention process that closed on Thursday.