The GST rate in Canada dropped from six per cent to five per cent on Jan. 1. But some store owners might not have made the transition to the lower rate yet.
So what should you do if you realize you’ve been overcharged GST? Diane Iadeluca, president of Ottawa’s Better Business Bureau (BBB), says to check your receipts, point out the error to the storeowner, and ask to be charged the correct amount.
If they refuse, do not go back to the store. Instead, report it to the BBB, which collects complaints and offers reports on business reliability.
“Certainly it’s not ethical to charge extra,” Iadeluca says. “They could be pocketing the one per cent, or inflating their prices.”
She says there should be no reason why businesses are still charging the old GST rate.