Ontario Home Services and Utilebill review: Misleading sales tactics 2

I have come to some time restraints for a court action regarding unfair practices of Ontario Home Services and UtilEbill. As a senior on a fixed income, I can not go the distance in court to release myself from the issues that I have with these companies. Two lawyers were provided by Pro Bono and were unable to obtain a fee waiver which makes it impossible for me to pay the costs as we go along. Because OHS forced me into a settlement agreement, it makes it a very difficult case to defend my position. These people bullied and tortured me until I said I would do my best to find the money for two removals of their Notice of Security Interest (NOSI).

In the summer of 2017 at the time of my marriage breakup, three young people presented themselves at my door as the Energy Sector of the Ontario Government. They told me that by looking at my last energy bill they would be able to see if they could help me to reduce my monthly costs. Also that any equipment recommended for my home would not cost me anything. In my own home-owning history I have never allowed anyone into my house. This was the first time. I had known that the government had been to my city to assist seniors with insulation issues and that it had worked out well. It seemed that this group that came to my door knew the same.

They looked at my bill and felt I could be helped by installing a Central Air Conditioner. Truthfully, I live in an 1880 double brick house and a window air conditioner had done the job well. I knew it used energy but how it compared to AC I didn't know. In a fast-talking sales pitch, I was assured that this was all on the up and up. I looked briefly at the contract and did not see the NOSI but it was there. I am from the financial sector but have no idea what a NOSI is but I certainly do now.

They dialed their cell phone and told me to speak to the person on the other phone who would ask me questions. I was to answer yes to all of them. They also told me that they were not to be in my house when I took that call but they stood behind me.

Within a week they were back and told me that I qualified for a HEPA filter and steam humidifier. They told me the same terms, I did the phone call and the next day they installed it all.

There was a 10 day cooling period. I saw the first 90$ come out of my account in three weeks I was stunned. They had lied to me. I began to call them nonstop for days with a full mailbox on their end. Then the next amount came out for over 100$ for two units. I was hysterical by then. The 10 days was up. By the time I reached someone, it was a young male who told me not to worry and by December I would have a credit in my account to cover this. I still did not know that this was not coming from the Ontario Government. NO money was ever deposited. The payments were coming out and then in January, I contacted Consumer Protection who told me I had a year to cancel. They provided me with a blanket letter and to fill it in and send it to all the companies involved.

During that time I was also changing the title of my house. My lawyer completed his work but told me in the end of our business that I had NOSI on my property. I asked what they were and he explained. Now my cancelation was more than necessary. At my age, how long would I be living in this house?

In my cancelation letter, I asked that they not access my bank account any further. But they did for two more months before I saw the withdrawal. They said that began the contract again. I placed stop payments on my account and began to get so called shake down phone calls at night and sometimes several times. It was non stop until I pulled my phone out of the wall. It was rude and disgusting and highly suggestive as to my legal standing.

At that stage, I filed in small claim court. They missed the first appearance so I kindly said it was alright and hoped we could reach an agreement. The next appearance, the judge had reviewed my complaint and his defense and told him to let his client OHS know that they were skating on thin ice. The next appearance was a settlement conference. I came very ready and knew I would win this battle. Instead, Mark Frazer of OHS and his Lawyer Mr. Chand, appeared and asked me into a side room. Mr. Chand was not in there as a witness. For more than an hour, while Mr. Frazer knew that I had PTSD, he continued a line of bullying to get me to agree to pay 4K to take off 2 of the NOSI. The AC was worth 26K to them and so that would not be possible to remove.

Repeatedly I told him I did not have the money. He would stand up then and look as though he were leaving but instead sit down. He did that more than a dozen times in over an hour while browbeating me in between. I told him that I had some final expenses that my son was in control of. That was his agreement to the nonsensical hysterical beating that I took. His lawyer came in with a scrap of paper and had me initial the money and went quickly into the courtroom. His lawyer had me sign a back page but I never did see or read a front page.

I was honestly numb. The judge asked if I agreed and I quietly looked down and said yes. She then said dismissed.

So here we are. I have not paid because an hour after court their billing company called me and told me they were suing me and I said fine.. just do that. I called the lawyer's office and told him that the deal was off and also sent him a letter that was registered. I believed he would do what he needed to do with the courthouse but he didn't. Seems that order can be enforced now. That was 2019. Nothing has happened.

But some things are clearer. The NOSI on my land title are illegal. They lack the substance of description, brand, and registration number. They should have been removed at first blush with my letter of demand and cancellation in early 2018. Home trust was the holder who realized the kind of legal jeopardy they were in and passed it on down the line to the billing company. But they are not just the billing company. They bought my contract the day I signed in 2017, that summer. So UtilEbill owns my contract and also controls the illegal NOSI's.

The issue with my NOSI'S is the same as my contract. They lack that vital information as well. So why was I paying Mark Frazer to take off the NOSI? I have been told that the two companies are not related yet they share the same lawyer. And yes that lawyer is very busy. I have only heard that they lose in court.

I need a clear title to sell. Next year the NOSI comes up for renewal. Another 5 years. I have heard that 10-year contracts can roll into another ten years. What can stop them if I don't now?

They have sent vague people to my door to take pictures of the equipment. I guess so. They need the info they don't have for the NOSI and the contract. No one gets past the front door. Also, door to door are young people who are name gathering for a class action suit that begins at 9K as their fee from me. And then there are the people who come to refinance my OHS and UtilEbill issues.

In 4 years I have escaped telling my children about the day to day stress I have been under. My health has been in decline with erratic blood pressure and heart issues. I am only 69 years old and yet it feels like I have gone through a war fighting for my house from OHS? UtilEbill for sure and an exhusband.

I have attachments that are many, that I won't send in this email. If you would like to see them, I can definitely send them. It is my hope that you can help me out of this convoluted situation. I am very nervous that I might not be able to sell and pay off the NOSI or go ahead and sell only to have issues in the last moment of the sale of the house and be sued there as well. I am pretty much stuck.

Thank you fr your time and consideration in this matter.

Respectfully

Diane Galway