General / CivilFixed feeComplaints to agencies and regulators

Consumer protection complaint

Consumer protection complaint. Civil claims, demand letters, consumer complaints and other disputes.

Each agency sets its own process and time limits, and these are checked before the complaint is filed. Ontario Licensed paralegal firm (LSO P21785)

What is included

  • Reviewing what happened and which agency can deal with it
  • Checking whether you must first complain to the business or public body directly
  • Preparing a clear written complaint with supporting documents
  • Following up with the agency and explaining its response

What is not included

  • Court filing fees, searches, reports and other disbursements
  • Claims over $50,000, injunctions, boundary or title disputes and other Superior Court of Justice matters, which are referred to a lawyer
  • Serious personal injury claims, which usually belong in the Superior Court and are referred to a lawyer
  • Enforcing a judgment once it is made, unless your service includes it
  • Appeals

Who this service is for

  • Consumers with a complaint about a business, collector or telecom provider
  • Someone with a concern about a provincial or municipal body
  • Anyone whose personal information may have been mishandled

Information to have ready

  1. 1Any complaint you already made to the business or body, and its reply
  2. 2Contracts, bills, statements or letters about the issue
  3. 3A short timeline of what happened, with dates

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost?

The fee is $600 plus 13% HST ($678.00 in all) for the work described on this page. Court, tribunal or government fees and other disbursements are extra. We confirm the scope and the fee in a written retainer agreement before any work starts.

What happens when I check out?

You book a time for your intake call, then save a card on Stripe's secure page. Nothing is charged today: the card is only charged later, for an invoice for work already done, as your retainer agreement sets out. A licensed paralegal confirms the details, checks for conflicts of interest and, if we can act for you, sends the retainer agreement. Fees paid before the work is done are held in our trust account.

Can an agency order the business to pay me?

It depends on the agency. Some can investigate, mediate or make recommendations, but many cannot award money, so a claim in court or before a tribunal may be needed for that.

Do I have to complain to the business first?

Often, yes. Many agencies, such as the Ontario Ombudsman and the telecom complaints commission, expect you to use the organization's own complaint process first.

General information only, not legal advice. NEO Legal Services Professional Corporation is a licensed paralegal firm regulated by the Law Society of Ontario.

Important limitations

  • No outcome can be guaranteed
  • Limited to what a licensed paralegal may do; Superior Court work is referred to a lawyer
  • Deadlines, including the limitation period, depend on you acting promptly
  • Claims over the Small Claims Court limit of $50,000, serious injury claims, injunctions, disputes over title or boundaries and other matters that must go to the Superior Court of Justice are outside a licensed paralegal's scope, so the firm does only the parts a licensed paralegal is permitted to do and refers the rest to a lawyer.
Law Society of Ontario — Barreau de l'Ontario
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