Disaster cleanup: request for class action against Qualinet

The company Qualinet would take advantage of the vulnerability of its customers to inflate its prices after a disaster, this is what is being said by a Montreal law firm which has just filed a request for authorization of collective action with the Superior Court against the “leader after disaster. »

The request filed by LPC lawyers aims to stop the way in which the Qualinet Group takes advantage of people in situations of vulnerability and despair and to obtain financial compensation for the victims of Qualinet’s illegal and abusive practices. The information was first published in the Press THURSDAY.

Any natural or legal person who contacted Qualinet and received an invoice dated October 7, 2021 or later is eligible to be part of the application.

The victims of Baie-Saint-Paul included

This includes the victims of Baie-Saint-Paul who did business with the company after the historic flood of spring 2023.

Radio-Canada also revealed in a report that the victims who did business with Qualinet after the floods had regrets and were frustrated with the company which, they claimed, had charged them too much for cleaning costs.

According to them, Qualinet had sought to take advantage of the situation, because faced with the emergency, the victims did not take the time to negotiate prices. Some had to pay between $7,000 and $14,000 to have their homes cleaned.

In the case of Baie-Saint-Paul, customers received their invoice once the work was completed.

Repairs requested

The law firm recalls that under the Consumer Protection Act (LPC), Qualinet being an itinerant merchant, it must provide in writing and in advance the total amount that the consumer must pay, which Qualinet systematically does not do.

The law firm also claims that Qualinet charges illegal administrative and profit fees in violation of the LPC and the Competition Act.

The class action aims to obtain an order from the Superior Court declaring void all Qualinet contracts concluded since October 7, 2021 and to obtain a reimbursement of all sums collected by the company in violation of the law.

It also aims for each member of the class action to obtain $1,000 in punitive damages.

For the moment, this is a request to take class action, which is awaiting an authorization hearing.