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Edmonton-Area Retailer Pleads Guilty to Four Charges Under the Fair Trading Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDMONTON, July 5, 2001 – International Stereo Centre Ltd. has plead guilty today to four counts of unfair practices in response to charges laid in April 2001 by Alberta Government Services. As a result of the conviction, the retailer has been fined $13,800.

The charges stemmed from complaints that the company had entered into transactions with consumers who could not reasonably afford to pay the full price for the goods offered. Over $100,000 in refunds has already been provided to 25 consumers who filed valid complaints.

Three former employees of the company also face a total of 11 charges for similar violations and tentative trial dates have been set for August 24, 31 and October 10, 2001 respectively.

The Fair Trading Act specifies that consumers have the right to fair treatment before, during and after any transaction with a business for a product or service. Examples of unfair practices prohibited by the Act include: engaging in misleading and deceiving conduct, taking advantage of a consumer’s inability to understand the full terms of a transaction and subjecting consumers to undue pressure to buy.

Further information on Albertans’ consumer rights and remedies under the Fair Trading Act are outlined in Government Services’ tipsheets, available by calling the department’s Consumer Information Centre at 1-877-427-4088 or on Government Services’ web site.