The Canadian Consumer Handbook

The Canadian Consumer Handbook is a website that provides consumers with information to build their buying skills. A joint federal/provinicial/territorial group called the Consumer Measures Committee created the Handbook and updates it.

Information on a wide range of topics is intended to help people become better-informed and more confident consumers. Selected topics include debit card fraud, researching your credit history, shopping for a funeral, what to look for in a mortgage, how to choose a cellphone plan, and how to deal with online shopping, telemarketers, and door-to-door sales. Advice is practical and wide-ranging, making this a good source to check before making a major purchase, or when facing a problem as a consumer.

If you feel you have been wronged as a consumer, the website offers helpful advice about how to lodge a complaint.

A key contact list is very helpful as well. It includes federal, provincial and territorial consumer affairs offices, and consumer groups and Better Business Bureaus across Canada.