Criminal Charges Laid Against Montreal-based Telemarketers

OTTAWA, December 1, 1999 — The Competition Bureau announced today that 85 criminal charges under the misleading advertising provisions of the Competition Act have been laid against three Montreal-based telemarketing companies, their principal Director, two Managers, and 11 individual telemarketers.

The charges are the result of a criminal investigation conducted by the Bureau, and relate to deceptive telemarketing and direct mail practices carried out by S. S. Viking Industries, S. C. Canadian Clearing Centre Inc. and Exclusive Premium Distribution Centre S. C. Corporation during the period of March 1994 to November 1997.

Telemarketers at S.S. Viking Industries and S.C. Canadian Clearing Centre Inc. contacted consumers across Canada by mail and by phone. Consumers have reported that they were told by the companies' telemarketers that they had been selected to receive valuable awards or "premiums" upon purchasing a promotional product from the companies, such as coins or pens. The Bureau alleges that misrepresentations were made regarding the nature, value and quality of the awards, and that important additional conditions and restrictions required to collect the awards were not disclosed or were only partially disclosed to consumers at the time of the transaction.

The principal Director of the three companies, Stephen Clark, and the Managers of the companies, Ronald Howell and Scott Chadwick were charged. The following telemarketers were also charged: Marvin Redler, Anthony Babb, Sylvia Fogel, Patricia Gavin, Richard Skolski, Joseph Paul Lynes, Greg Smith, David Laprairie, Ruth Goddard, Sean John O'Rourke, and James Place.

Consumers who suspect they have been the victim of deceptive telemarketing are encouraged to contact the Competition Bureau's Information Centre, or Project Phonebusters at 1-888-495-8501.

For more information, please contact:
Julie Hébert
819-953-4257