Consumer Alert

Ontario family shocked at $1,300 bill to put ill cat down

During the pandemic more people became pet owners, but some may not realize how expensive it can be if they require emergency veterinary care.

Woman who paid $4,000 to get out of air conditioner contract still stuck in it nine months later

Door-to-door sales of furnace, air conditioners and water heaters were banned in March 2018, but many Ontarians who signed deals before that are still stuck with them.

An Ontario woman remains stuck in a contract for an air conditioner sold at her doorstep. (Pat Foran/CTV News Toronto)

Ontario driver warns people about licence plate renewal rule after receiving hefty fine

An Ontario driver who got a $495 ticket is warning people about a rule he says he didn't know still existed after the province dropped licence plate renewal fees.

A photograph of an Ontario provincial licence plate with a renewal sticker is shown in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

'Remain calm': Baby formula shortage impacting Canadians

A recall of baby formula, compounded by supply chain issues, is causing concern for families in Canada as well as in the United States, where the the effects are being felt even more sharply.

The three-month-old infant vomited a parasitic worm the length of an adult index finger. (AFP)

Ontario woman warns about choosing credit card PIN after RBC refuses to refund $8,772

An Ontario woman is warning people about what they choose as their credit card PIN after she said RBC refused to refund nearly $9,000 in fraudulent charges.

Thousands of fake toonies have been seized in Canada. This is how to tell if you have one

An Ontario man has been charged after approximately 10,000 counterfeit toonies were discovered circulating in Canada.

Ontario woman says Toronto travel agency error turned dream Jamaica trip into nightmare

An Ontario woman’s plans to celebrate a milestone birthday in Jamaica were all but ruined thanks to a mistake she says was made by a Toronto travel agency.

75 per cent of Canadians to make purchases to celebrate Mother's Day

A new survey by the Retail Council of Canada finds that 75 per cent of Canadians plan to make purchases to celebrate Mother’s Day and many hope to give those gifts in person.

Toronto woman devastated after UPS loses photo album of her late parents

A Toronto woman says she’s devastated after a photo album of her late parents was lost in transit from South Africa.

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