This release was issued under a previous government.

Service Alberta has received complaints that Marcie Horyn, also known as Rae-Lene Horyn, is allegedly soliciting landscaping work as an unlicensed prepaid contractor. Horyn has operated under several company names, including Castle Contracting, Tundra Landscaping, Echo Contracting, Sundance Vista Landscaping, and Nyroh Construction.

Horyn was convicted in Edmonton provincial court on December 9, 2011, on five counts under the Fair Trading Act, including two counts of unlicensed prepaid contracting, two counts of failure to refund a cancelled contract, and one count of using a contract that does not comply with the regulation. Horyn was fined $6,000 and ordered to pay back over $40,000 for work that had not been started.

The most recent complaints allege that Horyn collected more than $34,000 from three Edmonton consumers for landscaping services that were not provided.

The Fair Trading Act requires that contractors who take money up front and solicit or negotiate a job away from their normal place of business must post a security and obtain a prepaid contracting business licence. Contracts must contain information such as the name and phone number of the contractor, an itemized list of goods and services, the completion date, and a statement of the consumer’s cancellation rights.

Consumers have the right to cancel a contract within 10 days of receiving a written copy of it, and have one year to cancel if the contract does not meet legislated requirements, the contractor is not licensed, or the work does not start within 30 days of the date specified in the contract. The contractor must provide a refund within 15 days of receiving a cancellation notice.

Consumers’ rights and protection are detailed in the Home Renovations tip-sheet (pdf) and consumers can confirm whether a prepaid contractor is licensed online or by calling the Consumer Contact Centre at 1-877-427-4088 (toll-free in Alberta).

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Cayley MacLeod
Communications
Service Alberta
780-644-1022
[email protected]
Twitter: @ServiceAlberta

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.