[ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rosa: CAUGHT ON CAMERA. THE HVAC SCAM IN ACTION. >> YOUR FURNACE COULD BE DAMAGED. ANY BELONGINGS YOU HAVE DOWN THERE. >> Rosa: INSIDER CONFESSIONS. YOU WERE TOLD A LIKELY. >> YES, PRETTY MUCH. >> Rosa: HOW DO THEY GET YOU TO SIGN UP. >> THEY KEPT SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING TO SAVE ME MONEY. >> Rosa: HOMES HELD HOSTAGE. >> HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS? >> PAY ME TONY $5000. >> Rosa: MARKETPLACE AND GO PUBLIC JOINED FORCES DRILLING INTO THE TRUTH, AND FIGHTING FOR ANSWERS. SOME OF IT INVOLVES YOU DIRECTLY. [ ♪♪♪ ] [ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rosa: WE ARE TURNING UP THE HEAT ON HOME HEATING BILLS. RIGGING OF HIDDEN CAMERAS TO CAPTURE A SALES PITCH THAT PROMISES BIG SAVINGS... THAT LEAVES HOMEOWNERS ON THE HOOK. LOCKED INTO COSTLY RENTAL CONTRACTS FOR NEW HVAC EQUIPMENT THEY DON'T REALLY NEED. JOINING US IS OUR EXPERT, RON MUNTZ. HEYER ON. >> HOW ARE YOU? >> Rosa: WELCOME TO OUR TEST HOUSE. RON USED TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY AND NOW TEACHES HVAC TECHNOLOGY. HE AGREED TO LOOK AT OUR FORESTS, AIR CONDITIONER AND WATER HEATER. DOES ANY OF IT NEED REPLACING? HERE WE ARE. >> OKAY. FIRST THING I'M GOING TO DO IS HAVE A QUICK LOOK AT THE VENTING. >> Rosa: RON SPENDS THE NEXT HALF HOUR CRANKING UP THE HEAT, TURNING ON THE WATER, AND CHECKING OUT THE AC. WHAT'S THE VERDICT? DO THEY NEED REPLACING? >> EVERYTHING LOOKS PRETTY DECENT. I RAN THE FURNACE THROUGH A CYCLE, A FEW LITTLE THINGS. NOTHING MAJOR AND NOTHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. >> Rosa: WATER HEATER? >> I RAN IT THROUGH A CYCLE, WE RAN THE HOT WATER UNTIL THE BURNER CAME ON AND IT LIGHTS UP, EVERYTHING IS FINE. >> Rosa: EVERYTHING IS FINE. BUT WHAT WILL BE HERE WITH OUR HIDDEN CAMERAS ROLLING? WHEN THIS SALESPERSON STARTS MAKING HIS PITCH... >> HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD GOOD. >> Rosa: MANY OF YOU RIGHT US FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH WARNINGS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF HVAC COMPANIES. WHAT YOU SIGN UP FOR IT IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE TOLD. ONE OF YOU SENDS THIS VIDEO, AFTER FENDING OFF AN AGGRESSIVE SAILS PITCH. >> LEAVE MY HOUSE! >> Rosa: URGING US TO INVESTIGATE. >> YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN. >> I AM VERY CALM! GET THE [ Bleep ] OUT OF MY HOUSE. I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP. >> Rosa: HE KEEPS PUSHING A HEAT PUMP SHE DOESN'T WANT. AND DOESN'T NEED. >> I WANT YOU TO GET READY TO CALL THE POLICE IF HE DOESN'T LEAVE. I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORKDAY AND NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. I DON'T CARE IF I QUALIFY. I'M HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE, AND YOU'RE STILL TRYING TO SELL ME SOMETHING. >> Rosa: SHE KICKS HIM OUT, WORRIES MANY OTHERS BODY IN. -- IN. [ ♪♪♪ ] WE ARE TAKING A TRAIN TO CORNWALL, ONTARIO, TO MEET A WOMAN WHO WISHES SHE TOO HAD SAID NO. A FEW MONTHS AGO, KAREN NORGAARD SIGNS UP TO RENT THIS FURNACE. FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS! >> I WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO SAVE ME A LOT ON GAS. >> Rosa: BUT KAREN HASN'T SEEN THOSE SAVINGS. I'M CURIOUS WHAT ELSE WE CAN FIND OUT. WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND THE SERIAL NUMBER. WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE, SHE IS PAYING MORE THAN $12,000 INCLUDING INSTALLATION. WHEN YOU'RE READY, GREETED OUT TO ME. HOW MUCH IS HER FURNACE WORTH? >> IT'S G., I'M, A... >> Rosa: THIS FURNACE IS WORTH ABOUT $1800. >> NO, WE! NO! $1800? >> Rosa: $1800. AND YOU'RE PAYING MORE THAN $12,000 OVER THE COURSE OF THIS CONTRACT. >> MAKES ME WANT TO CRY. >> Rosa: I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING HVAC SCAMS FOR YEARS. >> DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS A CONTRACT. >> Rosa: ACROSS THE INDUSTRY, THESE RENTAL CONTRACTS OFTEN COST THOUSANDS MORE THAN WHAT THE EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATION ARE WORTH. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE KINDS OF CONTRACTS. ONE NAME THAT KEEPS COMING UP IS ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS. THIS IS THE COMPANY WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT. THAT'S WHO KAREN NORGAARD SIGNED UP WITH, AND WHO WE HAVE CALLED TO OUR TEST HOUSE. FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT REGISTRATION. ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS IS FACING DOZENS OF CHARGES UNDER ONTARIO'S CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, AND THOUGH IS ITS CEO. >> YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR RESULTS. >> Rosa: SAEED TORBATI MAKES MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOS LIKE THIS, AND CALLS HIMSELF A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR WITH A LONG LIST OF BUSINESSES. >> NOBODY REALLY CARES ABOUT YOUR REASONS OR EXCUSES. >> Rosa: HE AND HIS COMPANIES STAND ACCUSED OF FAILURE TO PROVIDE REFUNDS OWED, FAILURE TO DELIVER A VALID CONTRACT, AND MANY CHARGES OF FALSE AND MISLEADING PRACTICES. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT COST SAVINGS, HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THOSE? >> NO, I HAVEN'T. >> Rosa: BACK IN CORNWALL, KAREN IS TOLD BY ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS THAT SHE NEEDS A NEW AIR CONDITIONER BECAUSE HERS USES FREON. NOT TRUE. >> I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND SAID OKAY, WHAT DO I HAVE HERE? THE EXACT SAME COOLANT WAS IN MY OLD AIR-CONDITIONER THAT THEY WERE INSTALLING IN MY NEW AIR CONDITIONER. >> Rosa: SONO FREON? >> NO! >> Rosa: KAREN MANAGES TO GET OUT OF THAT DEAL BUT IS STUCK WITH THE FURNACE SHE ALSO SIGNED UP FOR. WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE INITIAL SALESPERSON AND MANAGER THAT CONVINCED YOU TO SIGN UP. >> SAYING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING TO SAVE ME MONEY. >> Rosa: YOU TRUSTED HIM AT THIS POINT? >> OF COURSE I DID BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM WHAT. >> Rosa: GAVE YOU THAT IMPRESSION? >> THE NAME FIRST OF ALL. ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS SOUNDS LIKE IT. THEY DID NOT SAY THE GOVERNMENT, BUT EVERYTHING WAS IMPLIED THAT WAY. >> IT WAS TAILORED LIKE THAT, IT WAS MEANT TO BE THAT WAY. >> Rosa: BLAKE SHOULD KNOW. >> I WAS TELLING THEM ON THE PHONE IT WAS A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. >> Rosa: HE USED TO WORK FOR ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS IN THIS OTTAWA CALL CENTRE. >> I BELIEVED IT WAS A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. >> Rosa: BLAKE SAYS HE THOUGHT HE WAS SENDING TECHNICIANS TO QUALIFY PEOPLE FOR GOVERNMENT REBATES. >> MY JOB WAS TO PREQUALIFY PEOPLE ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THESE REBATES BASED ON THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THEIR SYSTEMS. >> Rosa: BUT HE SOON SUSPECTS IT IS JUST A PLOY TO GET SALESPEOPLE IN THE DOOR. >> REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER SYSTEM THEY HAD, IT COULD BE A-YEAR-OLD, IT COULD BE 20 YEARS. IT ENDED MATTER, THEY WOULD TELL YOU THAT YOU PREQUALIFY. IT WAS A THEATRE, BASICALLY. >> Rosa: THEATRE COMPLETE WITH A SCRIPT, AND ANSWERS TO ANY CONSUMER OBJECTIONS. THIS WAS ONE THAT WAS LINKED TO US BY A CALL CENTRE EMPLOYEE WORKING FOR GREEN -- ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS. QUESTION, DO I HAVE TO DO THIS? ANSWER, WELL, THE GOVERNMENT RAISE THE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS IN 2020 SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS MEETING THE NEW STANDARDS. IN TRUTH, THERE WERE NO NEW STANDARDS AND ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS WASN'T AUTHORIZED TO ENFORCE ANY. THE FORMER EMPLOYEE REMEMBERS THE SCRIPT WELL. >> I WOULD MAKE BETWEEN 200, 250 CALLS A DAY. >> Rosa: BECAUSE HE IS WILLING TO NAME NAMES AND FEARS LEGAL ACTION WE HAVE AGREED TO HIDE HIS IDENTITY. WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM THEY WERE SIGNING UP FOR? >> THAT THEY HAD SIGNED UP FOR THIS THERMOSTAT REBATE. THEY TOLD US TO MAKE THEM SORT OF THINK THEY APPLIED WITH US, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY SIGN UP. >> Rosa: YOU WERE TOLD THE LIKELY. >> YES, PRETTY MUCH. >> Rosa: BY WHOM? >> BY AXEL HERMOSA, ONE OF THE MANAGERS. >> Rosa: HE BEGAN TO THINK THIS WHOLE THING WAS A SCAM, HE SAYS, WHEN HE LEARNED HOW MUCH HIS MANAGERS WERE MAKING. >> FOR EXAMPLE,, HE WOULD POST HIS CHECKS ON HIS INSTAGRAM STORY. >> Rosa: THESE ARE COUPLE OF POSTS FROM THE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. WHAT IMPRESSION DO THEY GIVE YOU? >> $22,000 IS ANOTHER WEEK OF COMMISSIONS, AND THAT IS JUST AXEL'S CHECK. HE'S DOING DISHONEST WORK AND GETTING THIS MUCH MONEY OUT OF IT. I DON'T LIKE THAT. >> Rosa: BACK AT OUR TEST HOUSE, YES WHO SHOWS UP? >> NICE TO MEET YOU. MY NAME IS AXEL. >> Rosa: YOUR NAME IS AXEL? COOL NAME. >> Rosa: THE SAME GUY OUR INSIDER WAS TALKING ABOUT. REMEMBER, AXEL IS HERE TO ASSESS EQUIPMENT THAT OUR EXPERTS AS IS PERFECTLY FINE. SO WHAT IS YOU GOING TO TELL US? ILISTEN UPSTAIRS IS OUR PRODUCER KATIE LEADS AXEL DOWN THE BASEMENT. HE SPENDS LESS THAN A FEW MINUTES ON HIS INSPECTION, UNLIKE THE HALF HOUR OUR EXPERT TO. >> IT'S A GOOD UNIT, A PRESTIGE SERIES. >> Rosa: AXEL SAYS OUR FURNACE IS FINE. BUT ZEROES IN ON THE WATER TANK, AND A STICKER THAT SAYS IT IS TEN YEARS OLD. >> 2011, TEN YEARS OLD AND STILL ON THE RENTAL. >> Rosa: WASTING NO TIME GETTING TO THE CELL. >> IF I COULD GET YOU QUALIFIED TO UPDATE IT, DID NOT COST YOU ANY MONEY, THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY MAKE SENSE FOR YOU? >> Rosa: WE GO UPSTAIRS TO HEAR HIS PITCH. >> OBVIOUSLY A NO-BRAINER. >> Rosa: OUT OF THE BLUE, AXEL TELLS US OUR WATER TANK IS AN URGENT NEED EVER PLACEMENT. >> IT IS TICKETED SO YOU HAVE TO GET IT REPLACED WITHIN THE NEXT TEN DAYS. >> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> TICKETED, I'M A LICENSED CONTRACTOR. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, I AM LIABLE. I HAVE INFORMED IN THE TANK IS TEN YEARS OLD AND IT NEEDS TO GET REPLACED. >> Rosa: JUST HOURS EARLIER, OUR EXPERT TELLS US THE WATER HEATER IS FINE. IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND SAYS YOU NEED TO REPLACE THIS WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? >> ASK WIDE, BECAUSE I RAN IT THROUGH A CYCLE AND EVERYTHING IS FINE. >> Rosa: BUT AXEL SAYS WE HAVE JUST SIX DAYS TO GET A NEW TANK, OR ELSE. >> INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER THAT. OVER TEN YEARS, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN FOR A WATERKEEPER. >> Rosa: IN TRUTH, HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT OUR INSURANCE SAYS AND MOST COMPANIES WE CONTACT AFTERWARDS SAY WATER TANKS ARE COVERED WELL OVER TEN YEARS. >> FURNACE COULD GET DAMAGED, FLORIST, ANY BELONGINGS DOWN THERE. >> Rosa: OVER THE COURSE OF AN HOUR, AXEL OFFERS OTHER QUESTIONABLE BITS OF INFORMATION. HE TELLS US HIS COMPETITORS ACTUALLY WORK FOR ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS. >> ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS IS AN UMBRELLA. ALL THE COMPANIES REGISTER UNDERNEATH US TO PICK UP THE INSTALLATIONS. >> Rosa: AND SAYS BY PAYING $50 A MONTH MORE THAN WHAT WERE PAYING NOW WE WILL ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY. >> AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE WILL BE UP 20 BUCKS A MONTH. >> REALLY? >> SAVING GAS WILL COVER YOUR EXTRA COST IN YOU WILL BE UP. >> Rosa: BY THE END, IT BECOMES CLEAR WE ARE NOT GOING TO SIGN ON THE SPOT SO AXEL LEAVES WITH -- LEAVES US WITH SOME ALARMING ADVICE. >> THE CAREFUL, DON'T GET LIKE, TOO DRUNKEN BUMP INTO THE TANK. THEY ARE FRAGILE SO IF YOU KNOCK INTO IT, IT MIGHT JUST... >> BURST? >> YEAH! HONESTLY, SERIOUSLY. [ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rosa: WE CATCH UP WITH OUR HVAC EXPERT, RON MUNTZ, AT CENTENNIAL COLLEGE WHERE YOU TEACHES. I WANT TO SHOW YOU VIDEO OF A SALESPERSON THAT CAME IN AND WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THAT EXACT SAME UNIT. >> OKAY. >> I HAVE SEEN THE TANK, IT IS TICKETED SO YOU HAVE TO GET IT REPLACED WITHIN THE NEXT SIX DAYS. >> Rosa: HE HEARD HIM SAY IT IS ON ITS LAST LEGS, IS IT FAIR FOR HIM TO MAKE THAT JUMP. >> NO, IT IS NOT REASONABLE. THE TANK WAS OPERATING FINE. A DIDN'T NEED A NEW TANK. [ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rosa: BREAKING OUT THE DRILL TO SHOW YOU A WHOLE NEW, OTHER SIDE OF THIS SCAM. >> THEY CAME TO THE DOOR AND OFFERED US A GREAT DEAL ON THE NEST AND THE CAMERA. >> Rosa: AND A SECRET BURIED IN THE FINE PRINT. THE COLD TRUTH CONTINUES. >> WHAT! >> Rosa: THIS IS YOUR MARKETPLACE. WE'RE UNCOVERING THE COLD TRUTH ABOUT HOME HEATING CONTRACTS. YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENT WILL INCREASE THE RATE A HALF PERCENT EVERY YEAR. >> WHAT! >> Rosa: HOMEOWNERS LIKE KAREN SIGN UP FOR SAVINGS BUT GET SURPRISES INSTEAD. >> THEY ARE INCREASING THE PRICE EVEN THOUGH THE FURNACE IS GETTING OLDER EVERY YEAR? >> I WILL SEE IF I CAN HELP YOU OUT. >> Rosa: HIDDEN CAMERAS REVEAL SALES TACTICS THAT SCARE. >> YOU HAVE TO GET IT REPLACED WITHIN THE NEXT SIX DAYS. >> Rosa: WITH INFORMATION THAT MISLEADS. >> OVER TEN YEARS, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN FOR A WATER GAITOR. >> Rosa: AND NOW A WHOLE NEW TWIST THAT GOES BEYOND HVAC AND LEADS TO AN EVEN BIGGER BIND. JUST ASK TAMMY BISHOP OF LONDON, ONTARIO. HEY, TAMMY, IT'S ROSA FROM MARKET PLACE. HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD THANK YOU. >> Rosa: IT ALL STARTED WITH A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. >> WE WERE EATING SUPPER AND THEY CAME TO THE DOOR AND OFFERED US A GREAT DEAL ON THE NEST AND THE CAMERA. >> Rosa: THE SALESPERSON TOLD HER A NEST THERMOSTAT WOULD AUTOMATE HER HEATING AND SAVE HER MONEY ON GAS AND ELECTRICITY. >> THE GUY SEEMED TO BE VERY GENUINE. THE THOUGHT OF SAVING MONEY, THAT WAS THE MAIN THING. >> Rosa: ONTARIO ACTUALLY BANNED DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES OF HVAC EQUIPMENT. TOO MANY PEOPLE GETTING RIPPED OFF. NOW A SOME COMPANIES ARE BRANCHING OUT, SELLING EVERYTHING FROM DOORBELL CAMERAS TO THERMOSTATS. THINGS THAT ARE NOT BAND. >> SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL BUT BECAUSE I'M NOT THE HOMEOWNER, I HAD TO GET MY LANDLORD INVOLVED AND YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT IT? >> YES, I DO. VERY BAD. BECAUSE CECIL DID GET SCREWED UP FOR IT. >> Rosa: CECIL IS THE LANDLORD TO ULTIMATELY SIGNS UP FOR THE DEAL. THEY CECIL, IT'S ROSA FROM MARKET PLACE. HOW ARE YOU? >> NOT TOO BAD. >> Rosa: I'M HOPING YOU CAN SHOW US THE SMART HOME PRODUCTS YOU GOT. HE THINKS HE IS GETTING SMART HOME DEVICES. THAT'S THE DOORBELL CAMERA. ALONG WITH HVAC MAINTENANCE PLANS FOR BOTH HIS HOME AND THE RENTAL WHERE TAMMY LIVES. >> THIS IS THE SMART HOME THERMOSTAT. >> Rosa: IT'S ONLY WHEN HE'S READY TO SELL THE RENTAL A YEAR LATER THAT CECIL DISCOVERS WHAT HE REALLY SIGNED UP FOR. >> YOU GO TO SELL YOUR RENTAL HOUSE AND WHAT HAPPEN? >> Rosa: MY LAWYER CALLED ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A LIEN ON THIS PROPERTY? >> Rosa: TURNS OUT BURIED IN THE FINE PRINT OF THE CONTRACT IS THIS CLAUSE, SECURITY REGISTRATION. IN LEGAL TERMS, IT'S KNOWN AS A SECURITY OF INTEREST. BUT MOST OF US KNOW IT AS A LIEN. AND IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO SELL OR REFINANCE YOUR HOME UNTIL IT IS LISTED. >> HE SAID YOU CAN'T SELL THIS HOUSE UNLESS THIS LIEN IS GONE, TAKEN OFF THE HOUSE. >> Rosa: HIS LAWYER SAYS ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS, THE SAME COMPANY WE'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING, HAS A LIEN ON CECIL'S RENTAL PROPERTY. YOU ONLY HAS A WEEK UNTIL CLOSING. THE NEW BUYERS DON'T WANT A HOME WITH A LIEN, SO HE HAS NO CHOICE. >> I WAS COMMITTED TO THREE DEALS, AND I WOULD'VE BEEN SUED BY THREE PEOPLE. >> Rosa: CECIL PAYS ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS NEARLY $12,000 TICKET OUT OF HIS CONTRACT AND HAVE THE LIEN REMOVED. BUT THAT'S NOT THE END OF IT. CECIL DISCOVERS ANOTHER LIEN. THIS TIME ON HIS OWN HOUSE. >> SO I COULDN'T SELL THIS HOUSE. I DON'T HAVE $12,000 TO GIVE HIM AGAIN. >> Rosa: THAT MEANS HE IS STUCK IN LONDON, INSTEAD OF MOVING TO CALGARY LIKE HE PLANNED. >> IT WAS AFFECTING MY HEART, MY HEALTH. A LOT OF STRESS IN MY WIFE AND MY DAD, -- DAUGHTER, ALL OF US HAD A LOT OF STRESS. >> Rosa: ALL OF THIS OVER A LIEN. CAN IT REALLY BE THAT EASY TO REGISTER ONE? AND WITHOUT TELLING THE HOMEOWNER IT HAS BEEN DONE? WE ARE PUTTING IT TO THE TEST. FIRST STEP, INSTALLING A DOORBELL CAMERA JUST LIKE SEASONAL AND TAMMY'S. AT THE CBC BUILDING IN LONDON, THE CITY WHERE THEY BOTH LIVE. THE DOORBELL COUNTS AS A FIXTURE, JUST LIKE A FURNACE OR WATER HEATER. ALLOWING US TO SAY WE HAVE A CLAIM AGAINST THIS PROPERTY. NEXT STEP, TRY TO GET A LIEN. TO GET SOME HELP WITH OUR TEST, WE'RE IN STRATFORD, ONTARIO, TO MEET LAWYER DENNIS CRAWFORD. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> LIKEWISE. >> Rosa: HE HAS DOZENS OF CLIENTS INCLUDING CECIL WHO HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO WHAT HE CALLS THE HVAC SCAM. >> THE LIEN IS WHAT I CALL THE BEATING HEART OF THIS SCAM. THIS IS WHERE THEY REGISTER A LIEN AGAINST THE COMPANY BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE IS RENTED EQUIPMENT AT THAT PROPERTY, AND THEY DON'T NEED TO NOTIFY THE HOMEOWNER THAT THE LIEN IS ON TITLE. >> Rosa: THEY ALSO DON'T NEED TO PROVE THEY DESERVE A LIEN, OR HOW MUCH IT SHOULD BE WORTH, AS DENNIS IS ABOUT TO SHOW US WITH OUR LIEN. >> HERE IS THE NOTICE OF SECURITY INTEREST, AND THIS IS HOW EASY IT IS TO SET THE LIEN IN ANY DOLLAR AMOUNT YOU WANT. >> Rosa: ANYTHING FOR A DOORBELL CAMERA? >> SURE. >> Rosa: $25,000. >> ALL RIGHT. >> Rosa: DENNIS TAKE NO TIME FILLING OUT THE INFO. >> FIRST I SIGNED, THEN I GO AHEAD AND REGISTER. >> Rosa: YOU DON'T NEED TO PROVE ANYTHING. >> NO. >> Rosa: AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE CBC BUILDING IN LONDON HAS A $25,000 LIEN AGAINST IT FOR A DOORBELL CAMERA WORTH 200. >> AS YOU SAW, IT DOESN'T NEED TWO SIGNATURES. IT ONLY NEEDS A SIGNATURE FROM THE PARTY HE WAS REGISTERING IT. >> Rosa: HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS? >> YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY ME $25,000. >> Rosa: IS THAT THEY ONLY WAY? IT IS INTIMIDATING. DENTIST REMOVES OUR LIEN SOON AFTER BUT MOST OF HIS CLIENTS HAVE TO FIGHT THERE IS IN COURT. HE SAYS THESE TYPES OF LIENS WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE USED AGAINST RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. >> ICY HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE ONLY A FEW DAYS TO DEAL WITH THIS LEGAL PROBLEM PAY TEN OR $20,000 TO BUY OUT A WATER SOFTENER THAT THEY COULD HAVE BOUGHT AT A HARDWARE STORE FOR 2500 BUCKS. MOST HOMEOWNERS DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THESE IN THE FIRST PLACE. [ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rosa: SO WHAT ABOUT KAREN? DOES SHE HAVE ONE ON HER HOUSE FOR THE COSTLY RENTAL CONTRACT? WE DID SOME MORE RESEARCH SINCE WE TALK TO YOU LAST AND WE FOUND MORE BAD NEWS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS CONTRACT. WE FOUND THAT THIS COMPANY HAS A VERY SUBSTANTIAL LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY. TURNS OUT, KAREN'S CONTRACT ALLOWS FOR A LIEN TO BE PLACED ON HER PROPERTY. AND THE ONE THEY REGISTERED IS FOR MORE THAN $15,000. JUST RIGHT AFTER YOU SIGNED THE CONTRACT, THEY PUT THIS LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY. >> BUT WHY? >> Rosa: KAREN IS DEVASTATED. >> YOU'RE SEEING ME GET SCAMMED. >> Rosa: ARE YOU OKAY? >> I AM BUT... >> Rosa: HER FRIEND OFFERS SUPPORT. >> I'VE BEEN HORRIBLY SCAMMED. [ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rosa: CONFRONTING THE MAN BEHIND THE SALES THAT. >> I HAVE SEEN YOUR SHOW AND I'M ASSUMING IT'LL PUT ME IN A BAD SITUATION. >> Rosa: DON'T SIGN UP FOR ANYTHING UNTIL YOU WATCH YOUR MARKETPLACE. [ ♪♪♪ ] >> GET MORE MARKETPLACE. SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER. [ ♪♪♪ ] [ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rosa: THIS IS YOUR MARKETPLACE. [ ♪♪♪ ] >> Rosa: ROSA SPEAKING. >> HI, ROSA, AXEL CALLING. HE LEFT ME A MESSAGE? >> Rosa: WE ARE ON THE PHONE WITH AXEL HERMOSA, SAILS MANAGER FOR ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS. WE ARE WORKING ON A STORY ABOUT THE HVAC INDUSTRY IN GENERAL AND ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS AS PART OF THAT STORY. >> SEE IF I CAN HELP YOU OUT. >> Rosa: AXEL IS THE SALESPERSON OUR HIDDEN CAMERAS CAPTURED TELLING US OUR WORKING WATER HEATER HAD TO BE REPLACED. >> GET IT REPLACED WITHIN THE NEXT SIX DAYS. >> Rosa: THE GUY WHO TOLD EMPLOYEES TO LIE, ACCORDING TO AN INSIDER. >> PRETTY MUCH. >> Rosa: SOME OF THE STUFF WE HAVE UNCOVERED I THINK A STUFFY WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR ABOUT. SOME OF IT INVOLVES INDIRECTLY. COULD WE SET UP A TIME FOR AN ON CAMERA INTERVIEW? >> NO, I DON'T THICK IT WOULD BE-- I WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK WITH THE CEO IN REGARDS TO THAT. >> Rosa: THAT'S THE CEO SAEED TORBATI WHO FACES NUMEROUS CHARGES UNDER ONTARIO'S CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT. >> I'VE SEEN YOUR SHOW SO I'M ASSUMING IT'LL PUT ME IN A BAD SITUATION. 2500 REVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE ON GOOGLE IN YOU HAVE SEEN THE POSITIVE REVIEWS WITH MY NAME THERE? IS THAT WHICH WERE MENTIONING OR ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS? >> Rosa: WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO PUT IT ALL TO YOU. BUT THAT INTERVIEW NEVER HAPPENED. AND THE COMPANY WILL ONLY REFER US TO ITS LAWYER WHO SAYS HE'S BEEN ADVISED THAT THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ONTARIO GREEN SAVINGS ARE UNFOUNDED. NO ONE IN THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT WILL TALK TO SEE THERE, ABOUT WHY THEY ARE NOT DOING MORE TO CRACK DOWN ON DEALS LIKE KAREN'S AND CECIL'S. >> THEY'RE NOT IN BUSINESS FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE AND THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN. >> I FEEL A LACK OF TRUST FOR ANYBODY SELLING ANYTHING, AND I DON'T FEEL PROTECTED BY THE LAWS. >> Rosa: EXPERTS TELL US THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF, DON'T SIGN UP FOR BIG PURCHASES ON THE SPOT. ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT, AND CHECK IF THERE IS A LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY. IT'S BETTER TO FIGHT IT NOW THEN FIND OUT LATER.
