In just a couple of months, it’s going to be illegal for companies to come to your door and solicit sales, so say goodbye to those HVAC and water treatment salespeople who have made the rounds for years now.

New legislation passed by the government of Ontario last year will effectively put a stop to door-to-door sales as of March 1, 2018.

According to Bill 193, the Door-to-Door Sales Prohibition Act, “No person shall sell, lease, rent or offer to sell, lease or rent a product listed in subsection (2) to a consumer in person at the consumer’s home; or cause a person to sell, lease or rent or offer to sell, lease or rent a product listed in subsection (2) to a consumer in person at the consumer’s home.”

Items prohibited under the new legislation will include water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, water treatment devices and “any other prescribed product”.

The new rules are being implemented to protect vulnerable people from falling prey to unclear contracts, hidden fees and misrepresentations of products being sold.

There are some exceptions to the rule — if salespeople are invited into the home they are able to make a sale. The rules also don’t apply to advertising and marketing activities so kids selling chocolates and Girl Guide cookies are exempt. So please: don’t call the cops on children selling chocolates for school fundraisers.

Anyone caught selling door-to-door after March 1st may face steep fines. First-time offenders can be fined up to $500 for individuals and $5,000 for a corporations. The second time around fines can go up to $1,000 for individuals and $10,000 for corporations. If an offender is caught a third time, fines are $2,000 for individuals and $25,000 for corporations.

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