Charges laid under Direct Sellers and Trade Practices acts

As a result of a joint investigation by the Mary�s Harbour Detachment of the RCMP and the Trade Practices and Licensing Division of the Department of Government Services and Lands, 10 charges have been laid under the Direct Sellers Act and two charges under the Trade Practices Act.

The charges, laid against George Giles of Mount Pearl and Paul Norman of Paradise, involve the sale of vacuum cleaners, door-to-door, in a number of communities on the island of Newfoundland and on the coast of Labrador.

Under the Direct Sellers Act, 10 charges, five against each man, allege that Mr. Giles and Mr. Norman carried on business as unlicenced direct sellers between December 2001 and March 2002.

Under the Trade Practices Act, two charges, one charge against each man, allege that Mr. Giles and Mr. Norman engaged in an unconscionable trade act during February 2002.

Both men are scheduled to appear in Provincial Court at Botwood, Newfoundland on June 4, 2002 and at Port Hope Simpson, Labrador on June 19, 2002.

Customers who buy door-to-door should determine if salespersons have a direct sellers licence and report any suspicious activities to the Trade Practices and Licencing Division at (709) 729-2600 or the RCMP at 1-800-709-RCMP.

Media contact:
      Gerry Burke, Director of Trade Practices, Government Services and Lands, (709) 729-2717
      Rick Callahan, Director of Communications, Government Services and Lands, (709) 729-4860
      Helen Escott, Communications, RCMP, (709) 729-7267

2002 04 18                       11:05 a.m.