How do I report a contractor to the Better Business Bureau?

To report a contractor to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in Ottawa, you can file a complaint online at bbb.org/ottawa or call the BBB serving Ottawa at 613-789-5151.

The BBB Eastern Ontario office handles complaints for the Ottawa area and surrounding communities like Kanata, Orleans, Barrhaven, and the broader National Capital Region. Here's exactly how to proceed:

Filing Your BBB Complaint

Visit bbb.org/ottawa and click "File a Complaint" or call 613-789-5151 directly. You'll need to provide the contractor's business name, address, and contact information, along with detailed information about your complaint including dates, what work was contracted, what went wrong, and any attempts you've made to resolve the issue directly with the contractor.

The BBB will forward your complaint to the business and give them an opportunity to respond. Many contractors will work to resolve issues once the BBB is involved, as unresolved complaints affect their BBB rating. The process typically takes 30 days, and the BBB will keep you updated on any responses from the contractor.

Additional Ottawa-Specific Reporting Options

Beyond the BBB, consider reporting to Consumer Protection Ontario at 416-326-8800 or ontario.ca/consumer if the contractor violated consumer protection laws. For licensing violations, contact the appropriate authority: ESA at 1-877-372-7233 for electrical issues, or TSSA at 1-877-682-8772 for gas/HVAC problems.

If the contractor was unlicensed or committed fraud, contact Ottawa Police non-emergency at 613-236-1222. For WSIB violations (working without coverage), report to WSIB at 1-800-387-0750.

What to Watch For

Document everything before filing your complaint - contracts, photos, correspondence, receipts, and timelines. The more detailed your complaint, the better chance of resolution. Remember that BBB complaints become part of the contractor's permanent record and help warn other Ottawa homeowners.

The BBB is most effective for customer service issues, poor workmanship, or failure to honor warranties. For serious violations like unlicensed work or fraud, combine your BBB complaint with reports to the appropriate regulatory bodies and Consumer Protection Ontario.

For future contractor hiring in Ottawa, always verify licenses through ESA (esasafe.com) and TSSA (tssa.org), check WSIB clearance, and review BBB ratings before signing any contracts.