A North Vancouver law firm has launched a class action suit against Shaw Cablesystems G.P. alleging the telecom giant has failed to properly disclose interest charges on overdue accounts.
According to a statement issued Friday, Poyner Baxter LLP, a firm that specializes in class action suits, filed suit in the Federal Court of Canada on January 31.
The suit alleges that Shaw has violated the Federal Interest Act.
Lawyer Jim Poyner said Shaw’s practice of charging interest on overdue accounts is not illegal, but the Interest Act requires that the annualized rate be fully disclosed to consumers.
“No such information or direction exists on the Shaw statements,” Poyner said in a release. “If one mines down deeply enough on the Shaw web site the information can be found, but those who can find it deserve a prize.”
Business in Vancouver could not reach Poyner or Shaw for further comment.
The statement of claim seeks a refund, interest and costs on behalf of all Shaw customers who paid overdue penalties during the past six years.
See this week’s edition of BIV for more information about how liberal class action legislation is fueling more suits in Canada (see “Class action suits generate business uncertainty” – issue 1110, February 1 to 7).