Eligible Dollarama Customers Could Receive $15 Gift Card Through Class-Action Settlement
Dollarama customers can get a $15 gift card as part of the $2.5 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over environmental fees.
The settlement has been reached in the class lawsuit which charged Dollarama with not correctly displaying prices advertised and indicted for products subject to an Environmental Handling Fee (EHF).
The lawsuit was initiated by the Montreal law firm of LPC Avocats Inc. and alleged that Dollarama was selling electronic products that come under the purview of the Environmental Handling Fee (EHF), with one price in large bold font, and the EHF in smaller font on the product labeling.
The lawyers alleged that this contravenes the Quebec Consumer Protection Act and is a technical violation.
Joey Zukran, founding attorney at LPC Avocats, said,
“Essentially the law says you have to show the full price. And this wasn’t money that Dollarama was keeping in their coffers. They were remitting it to the environmental authorities.”
“There’s a very hard-line rule that says that the merchant has to advertise the exact price that the consumer must pay, prominently and completely, so not fragmented, excluding certain taxes. The technical part of this case is that the eco fee, although part of some government mandate, is not a tax.”
“There’s a very hard-line rule that says that the merchant has to advertise the exact price that the consumer must pay, prominently and completely, so not fragmented, excluding certain taxes. The technical part of this case is that the eco fee, although part of some government mandate, is not a tax.”
However, he added that consumers have the right and merchants have an obligation to display the full price in large font. However, Dollarama displayed the prices in two parts.
Dollarama agrees for settlement
Dollarama has denied all liability or claims to damages but has agreed to give $15 gift cards to claimants as part of a settlement. Anyone in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada who has bought a product from Dollarama subject to EHF between May 29, 2021, and July 4, 2023, is eligible to apply for the damages.
Proof of purchase such as a receipt isn’t necessary. However, they will have to fill out a form with their email address before April 5, 2024, at the website: dollaramaehfsettlement.com. The next hearing for a judge to approve the settlement takes place on April 9, 2024.
Electronic items such as batteries, light bulbs, and toys with batteries are subject to an environmental charge known as EHF. The money does not go to the government coffers but is used to dispose of the electronic goods in an environmentally safe manner.
Every province or territory has its system of EHF and is responsible for collecting the fee. A major portion of the fund goes into the depot operations, shipping and storage of collected electronics, and public education.
