MONTREAL - A Montreal-based consumer group has filed complaints with federal and provincial authorities against eight furniture retailers operating in Quebec and Ontario.
The group Option consommateurs alleges it has found misleading practices such as items advertised to be "on sale" when they're at the current price.
The group says its complaints were filed with the federal Competition Bureau and the consumer-protection ministries for Quebec and Ontario.
Most of the alleged infractions were in the Ottawa and Montreal areas but none of the allegations have been proven.
The complaints name The Bay, Brault & Martineau, The Brick (TSX:BRK) and its Brick Clearance Centre, Dormez-vous, Germain Lariviere, Leons (TSX:LNF), Mattress Mart and Sears (TSX:SCC).
A spokeswoman for the Competition Bureau confirmed the federal watchdog had received the group's complaint and will deal with it confidentially, as required by law. She said it was inappropriate to comment on the specific allegations.
"We're going to take the time necessary to review the report," said Gabrielle Tasse in a phone interview.."We take all allegations of misleading representation, including deceptive pricing practices, quite seriously."
A spokesman for Ontario's Ministry of Consumer Services also said it will review the group's report and its recommendations.
Option consommateurs has published a 317-page report "Genuine or Fake Sales" on its website, in English and French. that outlines findings from data collected every two weeks over a one-year period in 16 stores.
