World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Informing Seniors about Fraudulent Fuels Service Providers

Posted Monday June 15, 2020

Posted By: Elizabeth Leal

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Elder abuse comes in various forms: physical, sexual, emotional, financial, neglect, systemic, and violation of rights and freedoms. Today, as international communities observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) seeks to call attention to the risk of fraudulent fuels workers to Ontario’s senior population.

Fraud is the top crime against older Canadians, according to consumer reporting agency Equifax, which adds that shame or embarrassment may prevent seniors from reporting fraud.

As part of a recent public awareness campaign, TSSA gathered stories from Ontario consumers who sought to share true accounts of their run-ins with fraudulent fuels contractors, in an effort to help others. Ontario resident Mary shared an impactful story in which she and her elderly parents almost lost their home – and their lives.

Mary’s story

I had just bought a house, and while having it renovated, was staying at my parents’ house. My poor dad was in his 80s at the time, an Italian man, very frugal, always trying to save money. We used to joke and battle all the time because he would patch something up, and then have to do it again because he didn’t want to spend the money to do it right the first time.

I had a German Sheppard at the time who was always in the backyard, making it difficult for the gas guy to access and read the gas meter. So, while the plumber was working at my house, my dad asked him, “do you do gas?” and the plumber said “yes.” Unbeknownst to me, my dad hired the plumber from my place to move the gas meter from the back of my parents’ house to the front – consequently, running the gas line along the inside corners.   

 I was expecting about $3,000 in rebates for energy savings during the renovation on my house, but when I applied for the grants, my application was rejected because the licence number provided by the plumber was invalid. This man had given me a fake licence number! When I confronted him, he said, “I’ll give you my friend’s number,” and I refused. He hadn’t been licensed to work on gas, plumbing or electrical, and he was not registered with TSSA. Needless to say, I lost the grant money.

Fast forward a few years, I rented out my house and decided to live with my parents permanently. I was determined to renovate my parents’ utility room and cover the exposed wires, gas lines and water lines with drywall so it would look nice and clean.

The first contractor that came out to my parents’ home to quote us didn’t even want to touch the area because, he said, it looked “like a dog’s breakfast.”  The second contractor came prepared to do the job but, in the process, called the gas company to shut off the gas.

It was really scary when the TSSA Inspector and Enbridge Gas Inc Supervisors came by and said, “do you realize this is a near miss?” We were told our gas could not be turned back on until all the deficiencies were rectified. It was only then that I understood the severity of this issue – a huge pipe had been pushing and squeezing pounds of gas directly into a smaller pipe inside of my parents’ home. I get the willies just thinking about it. I had visions of my family’s home blowing up. And my poor dad… he was so upset when the gas company Supervisor explained the severity of the situation and asked who had done the work. My dad didn’t want anyone to get into trouble and felt responsible – he just figured the plumber knew what he's doing

Fraud prevention through contractor researching and reporting

Mary and her parents’ frightening ordeal might have been prevented.

TSSA provides oversight of all of Ontario’s registered fuels contractors, which means that all registered contractors’ work, and the work of their technicians, is subject to TSSA audits for compliance with safety requirements. In addition, TSSA can validate their knowledge, competency and qualifications, and substantiate their contact information so that they’re always held accountable to Ontario’s consumers. TSSA updates its Registered Fuels Contractors Directory frequently.

While some seniors may be reluctant to report unregistered contractors and uncertified technicians for fear of embarrassment or being penalized themselves, they can rest assured that TSSA exists to keep them and the Ontario public safe. Moreover, reporting illegal fuels workers to TSSA might save the life of a loved one.