Quebec Consumer Rights
Consumer rights in Quebec help protect individuals from unfair business practices, misleading advertising, defective products, and issues involving services or digital purchases. This page provides Quebec-specific information, official resources, and guidance on understanding and enforcing your consumer rights.
At A Glance
Filing Methods
Online, Mail
Deadlines
Deadlines vary depending on the complaint
Official Consumer Complaints Office
Update Status
July 14, 2026
In This Guide
Below are official and trusted sources for consumer complaints, marketplace disputes, privacy concerns, digital services, and regulatory oversight in Quebec.
These organizations can help with issues involving refunds, defective products, online purchases, subscription services, misleading advertising, privacy concerns, unfair business practices, and disputes with businesses operating in Quebec.
Office de la protection du consommateur
Primary consumer protection authority for Quebec. Handles complaints involving consumer transactions, contracts, warranties, refunds, and marketplace disputes.
Handles deceptive marketing practices, false advertising, anti-competitive conduct, price-fixing concerns, and marketplace issues affecting consumers across Canada.
Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI)
Handles privacy complaints, access to information matters, and protection of personal information in Quebec.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC)
Oversees privacy complaints involving federally regulated organizations and major digital platforms operating across Canada.
Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Handles discrimination complaints involving goods, services, accommodation, employment, and protected characteristics.
Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS)
Helps resolve complaints involving internet, wireless, television, and telephone service providers.
Québec Ombudsman (Protecteur du citoyen)
Handles complaints involving Quebec government departments, agencies, health institutions, and social services.
Not every consumer issue is handled by the same organization. The appropriate agency depends on the nature of your complaint. Use the guide below to help determine where to start.
Refunds, subscriptions, or business disputes
If a business refuses a refund, fails to honour a contract, or engages in unfair business practices, contact the Office de la protection du consommateur.False advertising or deceptive business practices
If a company makes misleading claims, uses deceptive marketing, or engages in anti-competitive conduct, contact the Competition Bureau Canada.Privacy violations or misuse of personal information
If your personal information has been improperly collected, shared, retained, or used, contact the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI) or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC).Telecom, internet, or mobile service complaints
If your complaint involves internet service, mobile phones, billing disputes, or service interruptions, contact the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS).Discrimination involving goods or services
If you believe you were treated unfairly based on a protected characteristic while accessing a product or service, contact the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse.Complaints involving provincial government services
If your complaint involves a Quebec government department, agency, health institution, or public service, contact the Québec Ombudsman (Protecteur du citoyen).
Before filing a consumer complaint in Quebec, it is generally recommended that you first attempt to resolve the issue directly with the business. Many disputes involving products, services, subscriptions, and online purchases can be resolved without formal intervention.
Gather any documents that may support your complaint, including receipts, invoices, contracts, emails, screenshots, and records of communication. It is also helpful to review any refund, cancellation, warranty, or service policies that apply to your situation.
Depending on the nature of your concern, your complaint may fall under the jurisdiction of the Office de la protection du consommateur, the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI), the Competition Bureau Canada, or another regulatory body.
Identifying the appropriate organization before filing can help avoid delays and ensure your complaint is directed to the correct agency.
If the issue cannot be resolved directly with the business, you may wish to pursue a complaint through the appropriate consumer protection, privacy, telecommunications, human rights, or government oversight process.
If you are unable to resolve your issue directly with the business, you may wish to file a complaint with the appropriate agency. The organization responsible for reviewing your complaint will depend on the circumstances involved.
Before filing, gather any supporting documents, including receipts, invoices, contracts, emails, screenshots, and records of communication. Complete records may assist the agency in reviewing your complaint.
Many complaints can be submitted online, while others may be accepted by email, mail, telephone, or official complaint forms. Depending on the issue, your complaint may be directed to the Office de la protection du consommateur, the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI), the Competition Bureau Canada, or another authority.
After your complaint is submitted, the agency may review your concerns, request additional information, or determine whether another organization is better suited to address the matter.
After your complaint is submitted, the appropriate agency will review the information provided and determine whether the matter falls within its jurisdiction. Depending on the nature of the complaint, you may be contacted for additional information, supporting documents, or clarification regarding the issues raised.
Some complaints may be resolved through education, negotiation, mediation, or voluntary compliance, while others may require a more formal review or investigation. Agencies such as the Office de la protection du consommateur, the Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec (CAI), the Québec Ombudsman (Protecteur du citoyen), or the Competition Bureau Canada may assess the circumstances and determine what action, if any, is available.
Not all complaints result in enforcement action. In some cases, you may be referred to another organization, advised of alternative dispute resolution options, or informed that the matter may need to be pursued through another legal or administrative process.
Response times and outcomes vary depending on the complexity of the complaint, the agency involved, and the information available.
Not every consumer issue can be resolved through a regulator or government agency. Depending on the circumstances, additional assistance may be available through Quebec's court system, legal services, dispute resolution programs, and consumer advocacy organizations.
Quebec Small Claims Division (Division des petites créances) may be an option for disputes involving financial losses, consumer contracts, defective products, or unpaid refunds.
Éducaloi provides legal information and educational resources to help individuals understand their rights and legal options.
Legal Aid Quebec (Aide juridique) may provide legal assistance for eligible individuals.
Option consommateurs offers consumer education, advocacy, and support resources for Quebec residents.
If regulatory options have been exhausted, you may wish to seek mediation, legal advice, or pursue available court remedies.