Other recourses

Consumers of financial products and services who are dissatisfied with the services received from a representative have other recourses, including those described below. It is important to note that these various entities, including the CSF, are independent from one another. Thus, decisions rendered by these entities or settlements entered into with them cannot be contested through the CSF.

Mediation service of the Autorité des marchés financiers

The Autorité des marchés financiers offers a mediation service for disputes between dissatisfied consumers and businesses registered with it. However, a consumer who believes he has been harmed must first file a complaint with the business in question, which must offer a complaint examination and dispute resolution procedure. If the consumer is dissatisfied with the resolution proposed by the business, he can then turn to the Autorité des marchés financiers.

For more information, click here.

Compensation fund

The mission of the Fonds d’indemnisation des services financiers is the protection of the public. It is administered by the Autorité des marchés financiers and is financed by the contributions of individuals and firms authorized to carry on business under the Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services and by the contributions of group savings representatives and scholarship plan representatives pursuant to the effect of section 193 of the Securities regulation. This section imposes the application of the provisions of the Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services pertaining to the mandatory professional liability insurance of representatives.

The fund is intended to compensate victims of fraud, embezzlement or dishonest practices who conduct business with the individuals and businesses referred to above.

The Autorité des marchés financiers is responsible for analyzing claims for compensation, ruling on their eligibility and determining the compensation amount to be paid to the victim.

For more information on the eligibility criteria or for any question regarding the Fonds d’indemnisation des services financiers, please visit the website of the Autorité des marchés financiers.

Autorité des marchés financiers committee

If you have made an inquiry request to the CSF and the syndic has decided not to bring the case before the disciplinary committee, you can address the review committee for the syndics' decisions of the Autorité des marchés financiers chambers.

To do this, you must send a review request within 30 days from the date of receipt of the syndic’s decision to the following address:

Secretariat of the Autorité des marchés financiers committee

800, rue du Square Victoria

Office 2200

Montreal (Quebec) H3C 0B4

Tel: 514-395-0337 or 1-877-525-0337

Email: comite-revision@lautorite.qc.ca

Filing a private complaint

When the syndic of the CSF decides not to file a complaint against the representative who was the subject of the inquiry, the person who requested the inquiry can themselves file a disciplinary complaint. This is referred to as a private complaint.

The complaint must be supported by a sworn statement and must contain a precise description of the facts alleged against the representative. The burden of proof is on the complainant. It will be his responsibility to prove to the Disciplinary Committee that the representative has indeed committed the offences alleged in the complaint.

Before filing a private complaint, the complainant should review the decisions rendered by the Disciplinary Committee or consult a lawyer. Under no circumstance can the secretariat of the Disciplinary Committee provide legal advice.

There are no fees for filing a complaint. However, pursuant to section 151 of the Professional Code, if the respondent is acquitted of every charge contained in the complaint and the complaint is considered excessive, frivolous or clearly unfounded, the Disciplinary Committee can order the private complainant to pay the costs and disbursements.

Complaint towards the CSF

Are you dissatisfied with the services you have received from the Chambre de la sécurité financière? Or would like to send us your comments or ideas for improving our services?

Please share your concerns by sending us your complaint:

By e-mail: info@chambresf.com

By mail:

Chambre de la sécurité financière
2000, avenue McGill College,
12th floor
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 3H3

The CSF will send you an acknowledgement of receipt, along with a processing deadline.

In order to offer optimal service in handling complaints, the CSF has adopted a Complaints Handling Procedure. We invite you to consult it for more information.

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