Chantal Brunet from Saint Lazare

i've had the same experience as Ellen in Montreal who commented just recently. They solicitated me at my door in March 2013 and if you sign that day and give a 25% deposit - you save. I agreed to a contract that involved painting trims on the front facade of my house. The contract states June 2013 for the work to be done. Granted, we had a lot of rain in june and we are understanding, but i can't recall how many times i called to find out when they were coming. the standard answer was: we'll be there in 2 weeks. Finally, my husband called in mid august asking for our deposit back. they assigned someone else to the project, the person overseeing our project called and apologized for the delay and said he will be there in TWO weeks. By mid September, my husband called and told them enough is enough, please give us our deposit back. The woman flat out told him: no, we got until end of november to do the work. Do you know anyone that applies exterior paint at the end of November? We certainly were not going to pay good hard earned money for an inferior job. I sent them a formal notice by registered mail requesting my deposit back within 10 days. The letter was received, but I got no replies from them. I filled a complaint with The Better Business Bureau and through their mediator they replied that I told them i was not in a rush to have this job done and had agreed to September?? That unfortunately in October, they can no longer do the work due to the weather conditions and staff limitation and they can do it next year and throw in a few extra for the trouble. I refused and asked for my deposit back. I certainly do not want to run after them again next year and I also learned through the Consumer Protection Bureau that you have no legal recourse for a contract that was made from a door solicitation after one year. So basically, after March 2014, they can keep my deposit and I won't be able to do anything about it. My next step is to file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Bureau (CPB) and if no result then the CPB as instructed me to go to small claims court. All this work for a deposit of $247. Lessons learned: 1). In Quebec, the law says that a business cannot solicitate you without a permit from CPB. This licence requires businesses to provide a fund with CPB to cover claims such as mine. Students Works Painting (also known as Peintres Etudiants in Montreal) has no licence on file with CPB. 2). never ever give a deposit on labor. Material which is delivered to your house ahead of time is fine, but not the labor. If they want the job, let them come back and pay when it is done. 3). Prior to engaging yourself in a contractual agreement, visit the Consumer Protection Bureau or Better Business Bureau for prior complaints against the business. Or ask for the business to supply you with references. Don't make the same mistake I made.