Loblaw Blames Error for Surprise Charity Charges at Maxi Store
A routine grocery run at Loblaw turned into a surprise for Kirk Bennett when he noticed a 62-cent charge for “PC CHARITY” on his receipt from a Maxi store in Dorval, Quebec. The issue? He never agreed to donate.
Though the amount was small, Bennett says it’s about principle, not pennies. “We thought at least they should ask,” he told CBC News.
Customers Report Charity Charges Without Consent
Bennett isn’t alone. Several shoppers across Montreal say stores charged them small donations—often under a dollar—without asking for permission. Some customers avoided the fee, but others noticed up to $1 added to their total at checkout.
The incident sparked backlash online, with many emphasizing that unauthorized charges—even tiny ones—can add up over time.
Loblaw Responds: “It Was a System Error”
Loblaw, the parent company of Maxi, admitted that it processed some donations without customer consent during a fundraising campaign for the President’s Choice Children’s Charity.
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In a public statement, the company cited a “system issue” and human error as the cause. They say the problem has since been fixed and that employees have received new training to prevent it from happening again.
“We immediately fixed the issue, retrained our store teams and corrected the process,” Loblaw stated.
They also encouraged affected customers to contact customer service for a refund if they haven’t received one automatically.
What Consumers Can Do
Consumer advocacy group Option consommateurs says that shoppers have the right to a refund. Lawyer Sylvie de Bellefeuille noted that retailers cannot charge more than the advertised price without clear prior notice.
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Here’s what to do if you were affected:
- Speak to the store manager first
- Request a refund on the spot
- Contact Quebec’s Office de la protection du consommateur if not resolved
- For ongoing or repeated issues, consider small claims court
According to de Bellefeuille, clear signage or verbal consent is necessary for any added charges like charity donations.
Will It Affect Loyalty?
For shoppers like Bennett, this misstep could impact where they buy groceries in the future. “We will always watch our bill very closely at Maxi,” he said, adding he may consider shopping elsewhere.
Have you ever been charged for something you didn’t agree to at checkout? How did you handle it?
More…
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/maxis-charity-charges-1.7548808
- https://www.overheretoronto.com/loblaw-bread-settlement-how-to-claim-your-share-of-the-500m-payout-in-canada
- https://www.overheretoronto.com/loblaw-reports-lower-q4-profit
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