By Dominic Abassi

Company posing as City of Nanaimo rep to push deceitful furnace sales

May 19, 2017 | 3:31 PM

NANAIMO — The City of Nanaimo has issued a warning about a company going door-to-door using false pretenses to get into your home and sell you a new heating system.

Business licencing manager Nelda Richardson told NanaimoNewsNOW the City received five complaints this week about the company allegedly telling homeowners they had a permit from the City to come in and inspect their heating system. The callers said they were told the inspections were necessary to ensure the systems complied with new provincial regulations and if not, mandatory upgrades were needed.

“This is very alarming and in no way has the City permitted anybody or licenced anyone…to allow them to come into your home and do this,” Richardson said.

Complainants reported the door-to-door salespeople claimed to represent the City and even used official letterhead.

“There is no reason that anybody has to upgrade their existing heating system in their older homes. It’s only in new construction where the City would be enforcing that,” Richardson said.

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She said the company is licenced with the City to sell high efficiency heat pumps and even has an inter-community business licence, meaning they can work in municipalities from the Cowichan Valley to Campbell River.

The City is not prepared to disclose the name of the company at this time and Richardson said unfortunately there isn’t much they can do under their bylaws.

The apparently deceitful salespeople have scouted their targets well, according to Richardson. She noted they are targetting older homes and complaints came from the Metral Dr. area.

Anyone who encounters a sales pitch like this is encouraged to contact the RCMP, Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection BC.

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi