The province says that nearly $1M has been returned to consumers who were bilked out of their hard-earned money by breaches of consumer protection and tenancy laws this year.

The results come from Service Alberta’s update of the rules governing businesses in the province.

Many of the companies and individuals involved in over 600 investigations conducted this year face penalties including fines and prison time.

The offences range from charging an illegal interest rate on a payday loan to misleading renovation companies that operate without a licence.

A ban on door-to-door energy sales, put in place in January, also led to 129 investigations.

Isaac Koshelanyk Vance, is 71 years old, lives alone and has brain damage, He knows he is an easy mark for fraudsters.

A salesperson came to his door earlier in the year and convinced him to sign an agreement for a new furnace and water heater. He thought that he was buying the equipment but soon learned that they were being rented to him.

He'd given the company a cancelled cheque and authorized monthly payments. At first, the company failed to withdraw any money but soon began to charge him twice or three times the amount it agreed to.

Eventually, Koshelanyk Vance was contacted by a lawyer for the company who demanded over $8,000 for the cost of the equipment.

Before he knew it, a lien was put on his house despite him never missing a payment.

Stephanie McLean, the Service Alberta Minister, says the new rules benefit law-abiding businesses as well.

“No business should have to deal with unfair, improper competition or have their industry’s reputation tarnished by a handful of bad actors.”

Meanwhile, Koshelanyk Vance has since filed a claim with Service Alberta. He is still fighting to have the lien removed from his home.

Service Alberta also offers consumers some tips to protect yourself, including tools to check on a company’s licence and advice on getting agreements in writing and being cautious about prizes or contests.

You can find that advice on the Service Alberta website.

(With files from Kevin Green)