As more and more people report being scammed with clever AI schemes or telephone cons, shady in-person sales tactics might seem to be a thing of the past.
For a Calgary man, however, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Jay Hector was approached by a salesperson for the solar company Northern PWR, who persuaded him to sign a contract for a 13 panel, 5.27 kilowatt array of solar panels totalling nearly $50,000 — approximately $9,000 per kilowatt, CBC News reported.
"His sales pitch, it made a lot of sense," Hector told the news outlet, saying, "I’m going to pay a very high price from my present supplier. I’m gonna be paying very low or even getting money back from going through solar. So that’s what sold me on it."
Only after Hector signed the contract did he realize he had fallen prey to a solar swindle. He soon learned that other people were getting the same or more panels for nearly half the price. Solar broker Jordan Kruhlak told the news outlet that the average cost of a similar setup is around $2,000 to $3,000 per kilowatt.
And that’s just the beginning.
Solar power company feeling the heat
It turns out that Northern PWR has used inappropriate sales tactics and contracts in the past, as Service Alberta’s Consumer Investigation Unit received 27 complaints about the company between June and September of last year, according to findings by the CBC.
Some of these complaints were that the company was “misleading and deceiving customers” as well as failing to refund payments within the prescribed time frame.
Last fall Northern PWR received a director’s order from Service Alberta, mandating it act in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act or face fines or jail time.
Unfortunately, solar power scams and shady sales tactics aren’t just happening in Alberta.
"We’re seeing things like false advertising and high-pressure sales tactics at the doorstep," Phil McKay with the Canadian Renewable Energy Association said. "This is a challenge, this is a problem that the industry is facing."
How door-to-door scams work
Like any other shady sales tactics, door-to-door scams rely on creating an environment of haste — aiming to make you turn off your critical thinking in favour of making a quick decision for a perceived benefit.
According to the Competition Bureau of Canada, these scams usually involve “aggressive pitches” and try to push customers into costly, long-term contracts that are hard to get out of.
In some cases, the product or service you ordered may never be delivered even though you paid. In other cases, like Hector’s, you may simply receive a product that is well below industry quality standards or much too high in price.
How you can protect yourself from these scams
Trying to protect yourself from a smart salesman can feel impossible in the moment, especially with their impressive-sounding pitch. Instead, prepare for any shady door-to-door tactics by following these tips from the Competition Bureau:
- Always research other products. No matter how good a product or service may sound during a pitch, there are always other options. Make sure to review other sellers to compare pricing before you sign a contract.
- Understand your rights. Most provinces (including Alberta) have legislation in place to protect consumers from inappropriate door-to-door sales. If you aren’t sure what’s allowed in your province, get in touch with your provincial/territorial consumer affairs office.
- Do your due diligence. Always look up the company you are dealing with to see if they have any information online. If their website looks unprofessional, or doesn’t contain any ways to contact them, it could be illegitimate. Make sure to review their Better Business Bureau profile too.
- Carefully review the contract. Don’t sign something you don’t understand. Make sure the contract you’re offered is clear and lays out key terms such as length and pricing.
What to do if you fall victim
Protecting yourself from door-to-door scams is one thing, but what if you fall victim to a shady sales tactic?
First off, don’t panic. Door-to-door contacts (known as direct agreements) typically have a cooling off period — though the exact timeline depends on your province’s legislation. In Ontario, for example, consumers have two to 12 days to cancel a contact without a reason or penalty, MNP explains.
If you do fall victim to a sales scam, or if you’re having trouble getting your money back after cancelling the contract, get in touch with your province’s agency that handles consumer affairs (e.g. Service Alberta, Service Ontario, Service B.C.). They can help you get your money back where it belongs.
If you’ve missed the cooling off period and you’re stuck with a product or service you’re not happy with, don’t beat yourself up. We all fall prey to pitches that are too good to be true. What matters is learning from the mishap and becoming a more informed and strategic consumer.
Sources
1. CBC News: He paid triple the going rate for solar panels. Now he warns people to research door-to-door contracts, by Josh McLean (Aug 28, 2025)
2. Government of Canada: Door-to-door scams
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.