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After years of complaints, movers who police allege would quote low but charge high moving prices are arrested, and have hundreds of charges laid against them.
Police arrested movers accused of scamming customers, and Marketplace had exclusive access
Police have laid hundreds of charges against movers accused of scamming customers for quoting low prices but then charging more and holding belongings unless the bill is paid. Marketplace had exclusive access inside the bust.
When Dogan Celik and Cemal Ozturk arrived at their warehouse in Scarborough, Ont., in June, undercover police were waiting in more than a dozen vehicles.
The takedown was immediate.
In the weeks that followed, the charge sheet would grow to more than 800 counts, including fraud, theft and conspiracy, related to more than a dozen moving companies operated by the men that moved customers locally and across the country.
The police investigation began soon after a Marketplace episode aired that looked into the same set of moving companies, but police say they were not aware of that episode until later in their own investigation. Read more
Tonight on Marketplace, we dig deep into the investigation that led to the bust, reveal exclusive footage and check in with the customers who were caught up in the alleged scam.
Watch the full investigation tonight 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) on CBC TV or CBC Gem.
There’ve been hundreds of complaints to Consumer Protection Ontario about one HVAC company — but customers say they’re still being misled
There have been hundreds of calls and complaints, millions of dollars in contracts disputed by homeowners and dozens of charges alleging violations of Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act.
Despite this, customers say HVAC company, Ontario Green Savings, is still trapping them in misleading contracts.
Marketplace found that there have been more than 400 incidents, inquiries and complaints since January 2019 made to Consumer Protection Ontario.
In those complaints, homeowners have described feeling “lied to,” “cheated” and “scammed.” And many shared detailed descriptions of how they were led to believe that Ontario Green Savings salespeople were government employees offering savings and energy rebates that would show up on a utility bill.
But the Ontario government doesn’t offer such rebates through private HVAC companies.
In 2019, the government laid dozens of charges against Ontario Green Savings.
In an email statement, the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery said that it “monitors complaints and takes appropriate enforcement action in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act.”
In a separate statement, a lawyer representing Ontario Green Savings said the company is “currently investigating the allegations against it and will defend itself, where necessary, in a court of law.” Read more
In case you missed it, Marketplace investigated whether Consumer Protection Ontario was doing enough to protect homeowners against misleading HVAC contracts. You can catch up anytime on CBC Gem.
You can now save on your Netflix subscription — if you’re willing to put up with ads
Netflix is now offering a deeply discounted subscription package at $5.99 a month.
But there’s a catch: ads. They could pop up before, after and even during shows. The package will also feature a smaller content library.
It may seem odd to see the streaming industry come full circle — from being an alternative to TV packages that spliced 15 minutes of advertising into every hour of content, to embracing the model that it challenged.
But it’s a sign of how inflation and higher costs have inched into every part of consumers’ lives.
Netflix is also expecting to launch a new fee for sharing passwords. Watch for that in early 2023. Read more
What else is going on?
This family has been waiting three years for a crucial procedure at the Hospital for Sick Children
There’s over 6,000 kids on the wait-list for pediatric surgeries, and the number of children waiting for operations continues to grow.
Canadian farmers are getting paid more for their milk, which means retail prices could go up too
New prices come into effect in February.
Big U.S. pharmacy chains are settling thousands of opioid-related lawsuits with a $13.8-billion payment
CVS, Walmart and Walgreens are facing thousands of U.S. state, local and tribal government lawsuits accusing the pharmacy chains of mishandling opioid painkillers.
Marketplace needs your help
Are you looking to get a better deal on your cellphone bills? We want to hear your story! Tell us about what you’ve tried, what’s worked and what hasn’t. Write to us at [email protected].
Frustrated by fees? Have you noticed an extra charge on your bill? An add-on you weren’t expecting? Send us your stories! Email us at [email protected].
Catch up on past episodes of Marketplace on CBC Gem.