Back to School 2022
September is a hectic month for students and parents in the best of circumstances, but recent years have brought us all a whole new host of challenges. Whether you’re living on campus or off, knowing your consumer rights is crucial to making sure you spend your money wisely.
Follow @NSConsumers on Twitter and look for the #Back2SchoolNS hashtag for consumer information all through the month. In the meantime, we’ve collected some general tips to help you out:
· If you can attend classes remotely, keep your logins and passwords unique and private, check that your antivirus, malware or VPN software is up-to-date, and make sure that your internet connection is secure. Never share any personal information over public wifi!
For more online security information, check out the Government of Canada’s tips and tools to GetCyberSafe.
· If you’re living off-campus, chances are you’ve signed a lease. Leases are one of the first real contracts we sign as young adults, and it’s important to know the right way to start (and end) one to prevent future disputes. Take some time to review Nova Scotia’s Residential Tenancies resources. Our landlord-tenant laws may differ from those in other provinces, so make sure you’re familiar with your rights and responsibilities.
· Roommates can be great company, but they can sometimes be a headache. Come up with a plan to split expenses fairly, and be aware — even if you’re regularly paying your share of the rent, any individual tenant or co-signer can be held liable for the full amount if someone else comes up short.
… and if things just aren’t working out you may not be able to end the lease, but you can look into subletting your room to another person. You can learn more here.
· During your post-secondary years, you’ll have many chances to apply for credit — on campus, online, even at the supermarket. Credit cards can be extremely helpful in establishing your credit history, but only if you keep the balance low.
Look carefully at the interest rate and the conditions under which it can be raised before you apply. Try to pay off your balance as soon as possible!
· Speaking of credit, make a plan for your shared bills. If you and your roommates are responsible for power, heat or internet, decide whose name will be on the accounts. Utility bills are no fun, but when paid reliably, they’re a great way to start building your credit score.
· Newcomers to the province can be particularly vulnerable to fraud. If you’ve got friends who don’t speak English, make sure they’re protected from scams by sending them The Little Black Book of Scams. In addition to French and English editions, Competition Bureau Canada has now made the guide available online in Arabic, Punjabi, Chinese, Spanish and Tagalog.
· Memberships and subscriptions may seem like small monthly charges, but they really can add up, especially if you aren’t using the product often. Try to keep your recurring monthly expenses to a minimum and pay attention to renewal dates and the conditions of trial offers.
· If you’re thinking about joining an off-campus gym, remember that there are special rules for athletic memberships: Contracts can be no longer than 1 year, and you must be given the option to pay monthly.
Contract requirements must be clearly laid out, and initiation fees can be no more than twice the total annual membership fee. You’re also allowed a 5-day cooling-off period after buying a membership — just make sure to cancel in writing within the 5 days.
· If things are tight, make use of the resources available to you. Your school’s financial aid office may be able to point you to opportunities to make, save or borrow money, and Nova Scotia’s Student Assistance program offers loans, grants, and advice on financing your education.
· Need an ID? Access Nova Scotia is the province’s in-person citizen services provider. Take a moment to review available online services.
Keep up to date about your consumer rights and responsibilities all year round at our Consumer Protection website and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @NSConsumers!
