The Consumer Complaints Blog

I would like to share a recent experience with a Canadian Tire store in Toronto.

This is the letter I wrote to their Corporate Office:

I’m writing this letter to share a recent experience at a Canadian Tire Auto service located at Weston Road and 401 (#119).

Please be sure that I will be sharing this horrifying experience to all of my family and friends including any outlet available to me.

I received a phone call from head office offering their sincerest apology and that they will be forwarding my complaint to the owner of the store who did eventually contact me. He also gave his sincerest apologies regarding my awful experience and that he will convey this to the entire staff as an example of ‘what not to do’ in terms of customer service.

Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.

This is my recent experience with Capital One MasterCard (Canada).

My step father recently passed away so my mother and I were trying to close the above account. We spoke to a CapitalOne (CO) agent and was told that we should receive some paperwork in the mail within 1 week for my mother to fill out and death certificate to provide). That was 2.5 weeks ago and nothing in the mail from CO.

My mother called CO’s customer service to inquire. She ended up being passed around from agent to agent 5 times with each one promising to transfer her to an agent who can assist her. Among the excuses are: this is the US department so we’ll need to transfer you to the Canadian dept, we can’t access your account, you need to speak to an account specialist. The last transfer was eventually dropped and my mother was exactly where she started…dialing their phone number.

She informed me what happened so I decided to call on her behalf last night to help her out. To my disbelief, I went through the exact same frustrating pass-the-buck experience! Asking for the manager or supervisor yielded no result. I even spoke to the same agent twice and was promptly ‘transferred’ when I asked to speak to his manager.

So I made another attempt this morning hoping that I would be able to quickly resolve this issue. That was wishful thinking on my part. This time, I spoke to 6 CO agents and 1 supervisor, given 3 different phone numbers (supposedly to the correct department) and I’m still exactly where I started…except my patience has run out, my blood pressure is at boiling point and just plain furious!

I sincerely hope that this experience will dissuade all future customers from signing up with CO MasterCard until they get their act together. Until then, I will be spreading the word!


Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.

I would like the following posted on your website to help other citizens beware of Direct Energy scams.

Beginning August of this year, out of the blue, I began receiving charges on my Enbridge gas bill from Direct Energy for an assumed “hot water tank rental”. I contacted Direct Energy immediately noting this sudden billing item, that I had not received these charges in the past and that I do not “rent” my hot water tank as I purchased it from a store and therefore own it. It does not belong to Direct Energy.

After speaking to at least 3 customer service representatives, and manager (Rebecca) I was assured that their records showed that I returned a rented hot water tank back in 2003 and they weren’t able to comprehend why these charges were now appearing on my bill. Apparently – some computer glitch.

It has now been 4 months and I continue to get charges from Direct Energy on my gas bill. With receipt of every bill, I must contact Direct Energy to have the amount credited and every staff and manager I speak to assures me that they will correct the problem and it will be fixed within a few weeks!

It’s been about 16 weeks since this problem started and as someone who has not even asked to be a consumer of this good – a hot water tank rental – I am left with no recourse but to call every month for something I do not have and have not requested. Absolute absurdity as to how this can even happen!

Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.

And so, my parents have been long time Roger’s Cable customers … easily 30yrs+, and they’d been in the habit to pre-paid the full year of cable services. Two years ago they finally decided to try Roger’s home phone and start paying for services month-to-month. My mom is really ‘old school’, she receives a bill/statement she’ll review it and pay it the same day, it is a rare thing for her to be late to pay a bill.

This month, probably the first time ever, my mom paid the Roger’s bill late. The payment was due on the 16th.., Roger’s or their collection department has called her daily since the 20th, not less than twice a day and some of the agents, beyond just being rough, have said they ‘will continue to call everyday until the past-due amount is paid!!!’ On the worst day of calling they called 4 times. They did not take into account mom’s 30 yrs+ of excellent pre-payment history!!!

Today we’ve sent out payment for the December statement and will be calling Bell tomorrow. Mom is so irrate she does NOT care if she has to pay more to get the same services she was getting from Rogers.

Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.

I had been a customer of Blockbuster for a number of years however, we rarely rent movies anymore and haven’t from Blockbuster for quite some time. If we do decide to rent, it became easier to visit our local Rogers Video store as we are client’s of theirs with all our cable, internet and phone services and we receive better discounts.

Well, to my surprise I just received a bill from the Credit Bureau indicating I owe Blockbuster $26.99 apparently, and their letter also indicates “after many attempts”. Are you kidding me! – not once has Blockbuster tried contacting me by phone or letter advising of any outstanding balance which I find ludicrous since I have not used their services for years. I was never late returning a movie and last time I would have been in, it should have been brought to my attention at that time. But I do remember times when I had returned movies, yet Blockbuster indicated I did not…and when they checked again…Oh yes, they did have them.

So now I have 48 hrs to pay the Credit Bureau which I will not be paying until someone at Blockbuster sends me a detailed invoice for these charges. I am a very detailed person and always keeps track of my finances and if I owe someone money…I will be sure to pay the bill. In this case I was not aware of any charges made to my account.

Blockbuster is well aware when a customer has not been in for some time. In the past, they have called me or sent me coupons in the mail to try to get my business back. So why can they not have the decency to send a detailed invoice when there is a balance owing on an account?

After being treated this way, I know I will never step foot in a Blockbuster store again. Rogers will continue to get our business going forward.

Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.