Montreal
A proposed national settlement has been reached in a class-action lawsuit about prices advertised and charged by Dollarama for products subject to an Environmental Handling Fee. The settlement still has to be approved before any compensation is paid.
If approved, members of class-action lawsuit may be able to claim $15 gift card
Rachel Watts · CBC News
· Posted: Feb 21, 2024 12:08 PM EST | Last Updated: February 22
If the settlement is approved on April 9, 2024, eligible customers may be able to obtain a gift card with a maximum value of $15. (Michael Wilson/CBC)Dollarama customers who purchased products subject to an eco fee — such as batteries, electronics, light bulbs or toys with batteries — may be eligible to claim a gift card.
The Montreal law firm of LPC Avocats Inc., announced Tuesday that the proposed national settlement has been reached in a class-action lawsuit about prices advertised and charged by Dollarama for products subject to an Environmental Handling Fee (EHF). It’s subject to court approval in April.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit alleged that the Montreal-based retailer did not properly display the price of products subject to EHF and charged a total price or EHF higher than displayed or allowed by law.
Richard Powers, an associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, said the settlement is a “drop in the bucket” for a company like Dollarama.
“I’m not sure how strong a case the plaintiffs had, but [Dollarama] clearly wanted to get rid of it just because of the reputational damage that can go along with that,” he said.
April 5 deadline to claim gift cardUnder Quebec and consumer protection legislation, merchants have to display the full price of a product — rather than a fragmented price — so that consumers know exactly how much they’re paying as they approach the cash, according to Joey Zukran, a lawyer at LPC Avocats and the class action counsel.
“Just a couple of days after the lawsuit was filed, Dollarama immediately modified its practice nationwide,” Zukran told CBC News.
Dollarama denies any liability or wrongdoing. A hearing on April 9, 2024 will decide whether to approve the settlement before any compensation is provided to class members.
WATCH | Customers could get some money back after class-action settlement:
Dollarama settles $2.5M eco-fee class-action lawsuitCanadian retailer Dollarama reached a $2.5-million class-action lawsuit settlement for not clearly conveying environmental handling fees to consumers. The plaintiff in the lawsuit alleged that the prices advertised and charged for products subject to an eco fee, like batteries, electronics, light bulbs, were not properly displayed.
Anyone who purchased a product subject to an EHF from Dollarama in Quebec between Dec. 11, 2019, and July 4, 2023, or elsewhere in Canada between May 29, 2021, to July 4, 2023, could obtain a gift card with a maximum value of $15.00.
If a high volume of customers take up the settlement, it could reduce the gift card amount per person — though some of the claims could be as little as eight cents, Zukran said.
The class action also includes Shoppers Drug Mart and its Quebec counterpart Pharmaprix, which have not filed a settlement.
To claim a gift card, eligible customers must provide their email address by April 5, 2024. LPC Avocats says no proof of purchase is required.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Watts is a journalist with CBC News in Quebec City. Originally from Montreal, she enjoys covering stories in the province of Quebec. You can reach her at rachel.watts@cbc.ca.
Follow Rachel on TwitterWith files from CBC’s Meegan Read, Nisha Patel and Jenna Benchetrit