Bell was ordered to pay $21,000 for doing a credit check on a Nova Scotia man without his consent.
Photo Credit: CBC

Court awards damages for unauthorized credit check

Cable giant Bell has been ordered to pay damages of $21,000 to Rabi Chitraker for accessing his credit record without his permission. Chitraker had asked Bell for a satellite television connection for his home in the eastern province of Nova Scotia in December 2010.

Justice Michael Phelan called Bell’s conduct in the matter “reprehensible” and chided the company for not even showing up to the court hearing.

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Rabi Chitrakar knew too many credit checks could negatively affect his credit rating. © CBC

Checks can damage credit rating

Because he works for a bank, Chitrakar knew too many inquiries about a person’s credit record can lead to higher costs for loans or getting turned down for credit cards.

When he learned Bell had done a credit check, Chitraker asked for a written apology and for Bell to remove its inquiry from his credit record.

Privacy commission ruled against Bell

Unsatisfied with Bell’s response, Chitrakar complained to Canada’s privacy commission. It ruled in his favour and he decided go to court to sue Bell for damages.

Court chides Bell for “royal runaround”

The court ruled Chitrakar got the “royal runaround” from Bell and the corporation showed no interest in addressing the actions of the employee who initiated the credit check or of implementing recommendations by the privacy commissioner. Neither did Bell offer Chitrakar compensation, so the court imposed it.

Chitrakar was pleased with the ruling.

“I was right, Bell was wrong. What they did is illegal, unlawful and unauthorized,” he said.

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