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Consumer and debt – More legal information

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) has many pamphlets on different consumer topics.

CLEOConnect provides information about consumer issues.

ACE (Advocacy Centre for the Elderly) has various publications specifically for seniors.

Problems with collection agencies, creditors or businesses

See our tip sheets on collection agencies and cell phone contracts.

Consumer Protection Ontario answers telephone inquiries and mediates written complaints between consumers and businesses. View their How to Make a Complaint page. They have free consumer guides and pamphlets. They cover areas such as:

Read more about dealing with debt below and on our Other help page.

Dealing with debt 

See our tip sheet:  Consumer and Debt Local Resources.

HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic (HALCO) – “I Owe Money” Guide.

Service Canada – Money and finances page – offers information on debt, credit, budgeting and more (including insolvency).

TransUnion Canada – how to deal with credit issues during COVID-19

Consumer fraud protection

See our various tip sheets on fraud:

Government of Ontario – Report a Scam or Fraud – how to spot common consumer or financial scams, how to report it and what to do if you’ve been scammed

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre – allows consumers to report on frauds and scams, including telemarketing scams, advance fee fraud (i.e. West African letters), internet scams and identification theft complaints. They have information on the types of fraud, how to report fraud and the spam reporting centre. See their page on COVID-19 Fraud.

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada – advocate for privacy rights of Canadians, offering information such as: identify theft fact sheets, how to report a privacy breach, protecting your SIN number and information and links on spam.

Consumer pamphlets and information

Office of Consumer Affairs – a federal government site and links to various consumer legislation and publications they have prepared and those prepared by the Consumer Measures Committee, including:

Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) gives information about financial products and services and information about rights and responsibilities when dealing with financial institutions. They ensure banks, trust, loan and insurance companies comply with the federal consumer protection laws. You can submit questions or complaints to them online. They offer information on many topics, including:

Energy contracts

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) provides information on energy contracts, including a consumer protection page which helps energy consumers be aware of their rights, options and responsibilities.

Their page on energy contracts offers these tips:

The site also has a list of historical natural gas and electricity prices.

If you are having a problem with an energy supplier, view the Make a Complaint page.

Energy savings

New Rebate Programs

On January 7, 2025, the Government of Ontario announced new rebate programs designed to help homeowners make energy-efficient upgrades. These programs cover rebates for:

  • Windows and doors
  • Insulation and air sealing
  • Smart thermostats and heat pumps
  • Rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems

Unfortunately, scammers are exploiting the program’s launch to prey on unsuspecting seniors.  See this joint media release from the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and others for information on how to protect yourself from these scams and for legitimate links to the rebate programs.

Help for Low-Income Energy Consumers

Ontario Energy Board offers Help for Low-Income Energy Consumers, including:

Power of Sale and Foreclosure

If you have difficulty paying your mortgage, the lender might try to sell the property to get their money back.

You can contact the Law Society Referral Service to apply online for a 30 minute free consultation with a lawyer. For urgent matters, or if you don’t have access to the internet, call 1-855-947-5255.

You can find information on Power of Sale and foreclosure on: