Consumer Alert

As E-bikes rise in popularity, concerns over battery fires grow

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, have spiked in recent popularity, and with that popularity is a growing number of battery fires – some of them fatal.

ServiceOntario making it 'faster, easier' to get driver's licences, health cards

Premier Doug Ford announced new ServiceOntario changes to make it 'faster' and 'easier' to get driver’s licences and health cards.

Service Ontario office in Kingston, Ont., on March 23, 2016. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press)

Many Canadians consider turning to part-time jobs if finances worsen, new survey says

A new Consumer Debt Report by the Canadian Counselling Society has found that many Canadians are pessimistic about their 2023 finances.

A waitress relieving a credit card is seen in this file image. (Pexels)

Family slams 'unconscionable' actions of TD Bank after 95-year-old woman withdraws $10K in scam

The family of a 95-year-old Ontario woman tricked into withdrawing $10,000 in the middle of a major snowstorm said it's 'absolutely unconscionable' that bank employees allowed her to take out the money without contacting her power of attorney.

A TD Canada Trust branch is shown in the financial district in Toronto on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Toronto homeowners have until Thursday to declare status of property to avoid steep fines

A new tax on vacant homes is set to take effect in Toronto and homeowners have until this Thursday to declare the status of their properties.

Ontario job seekers increasingly looking for work in other provinces: Indeed

A new report says Ontario job seekers are increasingly looking for work in other provinces, especially those looking for jobs in remote-friendly sectors like tech.

Ontario woman shocked she has to pay for car repairs after hit-and-run collision

An Ontario woman said she was shocked when she had to pay for repairs after her car was struck from behind by a pick-up truck and the driver fled the scene of the collision.

Ontarians can get money back with these personal income tax credits

While the deadline to file your taxes is months away, there are some personal tax credits Ontarians may qualify for that require some time pilfering through receipts to get them.

An accurate bathroom scale can be an important weight loss tool: consumer reports

It's been almost four weeks since many of us made New Year's resolutions and one of the most popular goals is losing weight.

Pat Foran

Pat Foran is an award-winning videojournalist with CTV News Toronto and the host of the station’s popular feature segment “Consumer Alert”.

In this role, Foran has helped consumers recover millions of dollars, exposed scams, warned about unsafe products, and passed on countless money saving tips to the public. The thousands of phone calls, e-mails, and letters he receives prove there is an intense public interest in solid, trustworthy consumer information.

Prior to his role as CTV Toronto’s consumer advocate, Foran worked as a reporter for three different CTV affiliates, beginning in 1986.

Foran is also the author of four national bestselling books on consumer and financial issues. His latest, The Smart, Savvy Young Consumer, is designed to help young Canadians spend and save wisely.

Have a story tip for Pat? Email alert@ctv.ca