In August, I took my vehicle in for a simple Safety and Emissions. It failed both. I said to go ahead and do an Emissions diagnostic. 2 hours later, they still had not started it. They drove me home. 2 hours later, I call to find out the results of the diagnostic since I hadn't heard from them. I was told they were still working on the diagnostic. 2 hours later again, finally I recieve a phone call. The call was not to tell me what they found; instead it was to say my car was done. They picked me up. I get to Canadian Tire and they charge me over $1000. I found out later that day that in 2002 a law was passed stating that it is illegal to perform services/repairs on a vehicle without authorization. I contacted Head Office. They followed up, and then said the Waterdown store did something they were not supposed to do, and that the owner wanted to deal direct with me. I never heard from him. So, I contacted him via registered mail explaining the situation. I heard nothing back. I then filed with the BBB and the Department of Consumer Protection/Rights. Canadian Tire sent through a rebuttal; it was all falsified information. Fortunately, I'm one of those obsessive people that insists on retaining a paper trail on everything. I have documentation to prove all of their statements were false. More importantly, they ignored the reason I filed complaints; that I was unlawfully charged for unauthorized repairs. I contacted the BBB and Dept of Consumer Protection/Rights again to re-explain the point of the complaint and that Canadian Tire still had no ground to stand on. Following that, I sent out emails to all local newspapers offering them the story of a huge corporation coming into such a small town and taking advantage of the towns people. I am Waterdownian, born and raised, and this is appalling to me...I know it will be to others born and raised here. Already the towns people are upset at what Waterdown has become, with all of the mega stores moving in. Canadian Tire made a comment in their rebuttal that I was attempting to ruin their reputation. I found that ironic, seeing as I have told the truth about the event and they have falsified information wherever possible. With my ability to prove this, you'd think they would clue in to the fact that they would be ruining their own reputation.
At this point I am looking for other options to make myself heard. I am curious whether or not picketing by the entrance of the parking lot is allowed? Waterdown needs to know what Canadian Tire is doing in their town. The store owner needs to know that he cannot pull illegal business practices and get away with it. If he fears for his reputation, then I would like to show him that there is a right way and a wrong way to do business in order to have a good-standing reputation with your current and future customers. Taking advantage of people and performing illegal activities is certainly not the way to do it.
I would love to hear someones advice/thoughts on this matter....
At this point I am looking for other options to make myself heard. I am curious whether or not picketing by the entrance of the parking lot is allowed? Waterdown needs to know what Canadian Tire is doing in their town. The store owner needs to know that he cannot pull illegal business practices and get away with it. If he fears for his reputation, then I would like to show him that there is a right way and a wrong way to do business in order to have a good-standing reputation with your current and future customers. Taking advantage of people and performing illegal activities is certainly not the way to do it.
I would love to hear someones advice/thoughts on this matter....