Ontario woman signs $12,748 furnace contract after being offered free doorbell
Door-to-door sales were banned in Ontario in March of 2018, but some companies may still come to your home to try and sell you products or services.
A Brampton, Ont. woman said in October 2021 someone came to her home offering her a free doorbell.
"I said 'No one gives away anything for free. What's the catch?' He said 'No, ma'am there is none, it's really free,'" said Beverly Williamson.
Williamson said she was told someone would come the next day to install the doorbell, but when they showed up they said they needed to go into her basement.
Once the company representative was downstairs, Williamson said he inspected her furnace and said she could save money if she installed a new one.
Williamson said she was told there was a special offer on a new furnace, but only if she signed the contract that same day and she did.
"Once I signed on the dotted line they had someone basically outside waiting to come in and install the furnace. So the furnace was installed the same day, but they didn't install the doorbell," said Williamson.
The doorbell was installed two weeks later, but Williamson said it no longer works and she had to have her original doorbell reinstalled by someone else.
"The following day the doorbell was not working and it has not been working since," said Williamson.
Williamson signed a contract to pay $69.99 a month for the furnace over a period of 15 years. The contract states there is a total commitment with other fees of $12,748.
Williamson said she regrets accepting the doorbell offer and wishes she did not sign the contract and kept the furnace she already had.
"I'm so upset about it I haven't really relaxed since then. I would really like them to take the furnace out of my house," said Williamson.
The doorbell and furnace were installed by Simply Smart Home, based in Vaughan, Ont.
A spokesperson for the company told CTV News Toronto "At Simply Smart, we take customer feedback very seriously. We are disheartened to hear of Ms. Williamson’s experience, and are in the process of finding some solutions with which she finds satisfactory and address her concerns."
The spokesperson added "From the onset of installation of our equipment at Ms. Williamson's home, Simply Smart did not charge her anything, nor do we plan on billing Ms. Williamson until we find a resolution to her concerns."
That came as a relief for Williamson who said she is now being given the option to buy the furnace at a reduced amount or have it removed from her home.
It's a reminder that most door to door sales are banned in Ontario, but if you make an appointment with a company and invite them into your home it's not considered a door to door sale, so be cautious if you're offered free products or rebates at your door.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Trial begins for Winnipeg serial killer who claims he was mentally ill
The trial of a man who admits he killed four women in Winnipeg is set to begin Wednesday, and a law professor says lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have multiple hurdles to clear for a defence of mental illness.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.