Know Your Rights at the Door

Know What to Ask and What You Can Do to Be Water Heater Smart

Be cautious if you open your door and are greeted by a water heater salesperson. The fact is, they are not there on behalf of any government agency and utility, regardless of what they may tell you. Be prepared, be smart and ensure you ask questions about the company that you may sign a contract with.

Any trustworthy salesperson will have no problem answering questions such as:

• What company do you represent?
• Can I see your ID?
• How long have you been in business?
• How many licensed technicians do you have?
• What are the cancellation fees?
• Can you leave the contract so I can review on my own time? (Be wary if they won’t leave it with you to review.)

Actions you can take to protect yourself:

• Don’t let them inside your home
• Check their ID closely
• Call the organization they’re representing to verify the information provided to you
• If they are rude or insist on coming into your home, ask them to leave and/or call the police.

Read the Agreement before signing – it is a contract!

Do your homework. Compare the new contract terms with your current terms. Some water heater providers have these specifics in their terms or introductory offers:

• Contract Terms – length of agreement and lease vs. rental
• Termination fees – ranging from $450 to $650 depending on tank type
• Removal fees – starting from $700
• Damage fees – ranging from $150 to $650 not relating to customer fault
• Introductory rental rates that are discounted by 50% in the first year and then are increased in the 2nd year to 100% or more than the introductory rate

Having second thoughts?

If you’ve recently signed a new water heater rental contract, under the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, you have up to 10 days to cancel and up to 1 year if you were misled or deceived.