B.C. Liberal Loopholes Leave Consumers Without Protection
VICTORIA – B.C. Ferries’ refusal to honour their own assured loading tickets makes a mockery of the B.C. Liberal legislation regulating prepaid service cards, say the New Democrats.
Mike Farnworth
Frances Murray, from Nanaimo, discovered that she is out more than $700 because B.C. Ferries will not honour her assured loading card. Opposition solicitor general critic Mike Farnworth says consumers are left at risk due to the exemptions from the 2008 bill that prohibits expiry dates on gift cards.
“There are loopholes in the legislation that you could drive a ferry through,” said Farnworth. “The spirit of the law is to prevent companies from arbitrarily cancelling gift cards and other prepaid services, but exempts cards sold for ‘specific goods or services.’
Guy Gentner
“This is another example of how the B.C. Liberal government has abandoned consumers – and it’s made worse by the fact that it’s a government-owned corporation taking advantage of the loophole.”
The B.C. Liberals were only embarrassed into bringing the legislation forward after New Democrat MLA Guy Gentner introduced a private member’s bill in 2007. However, when the legislation came forward, the government chose to leave the specifics to regulation.
“Eliminating expiry dates is supposed to protect consumers,” said Gentner, the MLA for Delta North. “But these loopholes leave consumers in the lurch.
“This is another egregious case of a person who has spent money on a service, expecting the company would honour their product. It’s appalling that British Columbians are left without any protection because of a loophole put in place by the B.C. Liberals.”
Carole James and the New Democrats have been holding the B.C. Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.
