Regulator is throwing consumers to ‘telco sales dogs,’ says advocate
OTTAWA — A consumer watchdog group says Canada’s telecom regulator is abdicating its responsibility by refusing to launch a public inquiry into the sales practices of the country’s major telecommunications service providers.
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre called for the inquiry early last month to investigate media reports about high-pressure sales tactics used by at least one major company.
PIAC executive director John Lawford said vulnerable consumers, including older Canadians, grieving spouses and blind customers were being targeted by aggressive sales people.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission responded earlier this month, telling Lawford that consumers already have a number of places to turn if they feel they’ve been wronged by their telecom service provider, including the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services (CCTS).