What is Manitoba Consumer Protection?

The Manitoba Consumer Protection Act was passed to protect the citizens from unfair practices and exploitation. It was passed by the Manitoba Legislature and it includes The Consumer Protection Act, The Personal Investigations Act, The Hearing Aid Act, The Charities Endorsement Act and The Bedding, Upholstered and Stuffed Articles Regulation covered by The Public Health Act.

The Manitoba Consumers' protection Act aims at regulating the practices of lending and borrowing money by establishing certain rules and guidelines for people to follow. It also regulates insurance agreements and ensures that no frauds are committed. It requires that the cost of borrowing be available for the consumers before an agreement is signed. Another important feature of this law is that it allows for certain relief in case assets of the borrower are seized if he or she defaults on the payments.

Manitoba Consumer's Program Bureau Duties

In order to enforce this law, the Manitoba Consumers' protection Bureau was formed in 1970. Their duties include licensing companies that sell various products, registering and regulating all such companies, monitoring collection agencies, certifying dealers who deal with hearing aids, keep a watch on fund raising by charitable organizations, regulate agents who renovate bedding and other stuffed articles to ensure that it is not harmful to the health etc.

Another important duty of the Manitoba Consumers' protection Bureau is hearing complains of consumers and investigating them. When a complaint is made, the Bureau looks into the matter, considers the situation of both the parties and comes up with a solution that is within the law. Sometimes the problem might not be covered by the law. In such situations, the Bureau tries to promote communication between the two parties so that a mutually beneficial agreement is reached voluntarily and the problem is resolved.

When a complaint is made, the Manitoba Consumers' protection Bureau first contacts the organization against which the complaint was made and asks for a response. This response is then discussed with the consumer. If the consumer does not agree to the response, then the agency takes up the problems of the consumer to the organization again. This process is continued till an agreement is reached between both the parties. However the Bureau does not have the right to impose its will on either of the parties. It only serves to settle the dispute by mutual agreement. In case the problem cannot be solved by the bureau, then the matter can be taken to court.

The Manitoba Consumers' protection Bureau is also committed to educating consumers about their rights and duties. It helps consumers identify various kinds of frauds such as identity theft. Consumers are then encouraged to report such frauds so that investigations can be carried out on them. They are also educated on the ways to protect themselves from fraud before it happens. This has greatly helped in minimizing fraud.