Go to Small Claims Court
Question & Answer
How do I complain to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services?If the Ministry is not able to help you, you might want to sue the company in . If you are asking for $35,000 or less, you can file a claim in Small Claims Court. You must file your claim within 2 years of when you first learned about the problem.
If you want to sue for more than $35,000, you have to do this in Superior Court. It’s very hard to do this without a lawyer. If you want to sue in Superior Court, you should try to get legal help. If you still want to sue in Small Claims Court, you can waive the amount that is over $35,000. For example, if you are owed $40,000, you can waive your right to $5,000 and sue in Small Claims Court for $35,000.
The Ministry of the Attorney General website has a self-help guide for Small Claims Court.
In Small Claims Court, you have a chance to tell your story to a judge and present your evidence. The company will also have a chance to tell their story.
You do not need a lawyer to represent you in Small Claims Court. But, talking to a lawyer or paralegal can help you understand the court process. If you have a low income, you might be able to get help from Pro Bono Ontario.
But, there are some reasons why you might not want to sue in court, including:
- you have to pay court fees
- if you lose, the court could order you to pay some of the company’s legal costs
- it’s complicated and a lot of work for you, especially if you don’t have a lawyer
- it can take a year or more
- if you win but the company doesn’t pay, you have to try to collect the money on your own
