New Brunswick’s financial and consumer services regulator is seeking a market activity ban for a contracting company with offices in Saint John.
The Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB) has applied to the Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal for an order requiring RH Enterprises to stop direct selling activities in New Brunswick.
The FCNB said it launched an investigation against the company after receiving a series of complaints.
In its application, the commission alleges the company made “misleading or untrue statements or did not state a fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make the statement not misleading.”
The company is also accused of conducting door-to-door selling and acting as a credit broker without being licensed.
Following a series of complaints and an investigation, an application has been made to the Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal for an order requiring RH Enterprises to cease conducting direct selling activities in New Brunswick. https://t.co/iizcV0DysA pic.twitter.com/BZJcQqqAw4
— FCNB (@FCNB_) February 7, 2020
“Complainants have reported that upon visiting the home for a free inspection, they are informed that their attic is filled with mould and that for health and safety reasons remediation needs to happen immediately,” said the FCNB in a news release.
“The sales representative allegedly then used high-pressure sales tactics to persuade the homeowner to hire them to fix the problem.”
RH Enterprises offers inspection, decontamination and insulation services, according to its website, and has developed a “free inspection program” to help customers know the “current state of their home’s quality.”
In addition to its Saint John office, the company also has locations in Quebec and Ottawa.
The company did not respond to our request for comment.
“Consumers are advised to be cautious of the offer of free home services, inspections or testing, as these are often accompanied by a sales pitch,” said the FCNB.
The commission said consumers who have inquiries or complaints about services provided by the company can contact them at 1-866-933-2222.