HVAC scams and how to stop them; Why can’t retail workers get N95 masks? CBC Marketplace Cheat Sheet

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Sellers use sketchy tactics to sell HVAC contracts. We caught one in the act

This week, Marlet and Go in public team up to expose the tactics used to entice consumers into overpriced long-term leases for new heating and cooling equipment — and more.

Our team set up a test house with hidden cameras to find out what would happen when a sales representative from a company with a history of complaints came to inspect the hot water tank.

The seasoned HVAC expert we asked to inspect the tank before Ontario Green Savings arrived found no faults. But when Axel Hermosa – a commissioned sales manager for the company – knocked on the door, we heard a very different story.

“You need to have it replaced within the next six days,” he said, explaining that once the tank is 10 years old, insurance will no longer cover damage. “So if anything happens, I’m responsible. I saw the tank…Insurance won’t cover that shit.”

But when we checked the specific insurance policy at the house, as well as with several other insurance companies and the Insurance Bureau of Canada, all said they covered damage from tanks over 10 years.

Hermosa also said the new tank would cost about $50 more per month than the current contract, but would be so efficient that it would save money in the long run. Many consumers who have shared their experience with CBC have never seen these savings. Read more

This is just one of the clever sales tactics you’ll need to watch out for. To see more, watch Market of full investigation.

Hidden cameras catch CVC scam in action

Exposing deceptive sales tactics used to lure people into unfair and overpriced HVAC contracts. And insiders are revealing the new ways they’re getting you to sign up for other home gear, too. 22:30

Marketplace Update: Instacart Edition

After last week Marlet investigation revealed hidden fees and markups for certain grocery items on Instacart from Loblaws and Costco, we heard from many viewers telling us about their own experiences with online grocery delivery.

But that wasn’t the only reaction to our story.

Following our investigation, the NDP sent a letter to the Competition Bureau ask the commissioner to investigate the cost of third-party grocery delivery apps like Instacart.

“With the speed at which the new variant of COVID-19 is spreading, more Canadians than ever before are self-isolating and forced to rely on grocery delivery services like Instacart,” the federal spokesperson said. NDP for Industry and MP Brian Masse in a statement.

“Canadians who are doing the right thing by staying home to keep their communities safe should not be punished by third-party apps that take advantage of the situation.”

The party also sent a letter to the chair of the industry committee asking that the committee meet again to discuss markups by third-party apps, among other agenda items.

We’ll keep you posted on any updates on this story, and in the meantime, resume our full Instacart investigation below.

Delivery offer or real scam?

Investigate hidden markups and missed sales on Instacart, as well as test HelloFresh, Chefs Plate and Goodfood. 22:30

Many frontline healthcare workers are being issued N95-type masks. Why not those who work in retail?

In the wake of Omicron, many regulations were changed quickly to better protect workers.

For example, most frontline healthcare workers in Ontario are now required to wear N95-type masks, which filter out the vast majority of dangerous coronavirus particles.

But for people who work with the general public, some of these changes are lagging behind.

In most grocery stores, there is still no mandate for the widespread use of N95 or equivalent masks, despite mounting evidence that cloth masks and other inferior options don’t do much. -something to slow the spread of the wildfire that is Omicron. Read more

Many grocery stores still rely on disposable masks for their employees, which experts say aren’t as effective as N95-type masks in limiting coronavirus transmission. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

Thousands of alleged breast implant injuries revealed in manufacturer data dump, CBC analysis finds

Health Canada has been left in the dark for years about thousands of alleged breast implant-related injuries and complications — including multiple mentions of a rare cancer — that manufacturers failed to report.

An analysis of CBC data found that more than half of the 5,990 new reports are suspected injuries, while the rest are classified as having the potential for injury or death if they recur, also known as near-misses .

The data suggests that manufacturers received reports as early as 2000, but they weren’t submitted to Health Canada’s database until nearly two decades later.

The organization launched an investigation after reviewing breast implant maker Allergan’s 2017 annual report, which mentioned breast implant incidents that did not appear in Health Canada’s database.

When asked by CBC News to provide more context on this under-reporting and Health Canada’s inspection, Allergan declined to comment. Read more

In 2018, a Marlet hidden camera investigation revealed how some plastic surgeons gloss over the health risks of breast implants during their sales pitches.

Terri McGregor was diagnosed in 2015 with breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare cancer associated with textured breast implants. CBC News found his doctor’s report to the manufacturer in a 2019 data dump. (Osama Farag/CBC News)

What else is going on?

China and the Philippines suspend beef imports from Canada after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy
The disruption had no noticeable impact on Canadian prices, says the executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

Are owners responsible for slips on icy sidewalks?
The classic Canadian legal conundrum relates to the question of what it means to be a good neighbour.

Dewalt Jobsite Pro wireless headphones recalled due to burn and fire hazard
Immediately stop using the recalled DEWALT ® Jobsite Pro Wireless Headphones.

Certain Dole and President’s Choice brand salads recalled due to presence of listeria
Click to view the list of recalled products.

The marketplace needs your help

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