Exposing hidden wedding markups: CBC's Marketplace consumer cheat sheet
CBC News | Posted: April 9, 2017 1:00 PM | Last Updated: April 9, 2017
Also, when is an airplane seat not a seat and can you claim your cat as a dependant?
Miss something this week? Here's the consumer news you need to know from CBC's Marketplace.
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Ticket? Check. Seat? Not so much
"If I'm not paying for a seat, what am I paying for?"
This woman bought her plane ticket, at regular fare, months ahead of time. So naturally, she expected a seat on that flight. Nope.
When she showed up at the airport, she was put on standby. The airline said that checking in ahead of time can help "avoid any seating issues." Noted.
Tax tip: No, you can't claim your cat as a dependant
It's tax season, a time when some people get a little ... creative.
So here are some outrageous expenses that some tax pros have encountered, including a client's kitty costs.
"It was like, 'Yes, I understand you give love and support to this cat, but Revenue Canada's criteria for a dependant is quite different."
New Air Miles rules
After thieves managed to steal some collectors' miles, Air Miles has new rules around using those cash miles.
The new rules are about beefing up security, but some collectors may be miffed: There's now a daily spending cap of $50 per account, and you can't get gift cards. Here's what you need to know.
This week in recalls
That Robin Hood flour recall is now nationwide, these Ford pickups may roll away when parked, these sundaes may contain Listeria, these kids' charms contain lead, these bikes may fall apart, and this nailer could be, well, dangerous.
What else is going on?
Canada's top doc says if you're travelling, you really need to make sure your measles shot is up to date.
A British banking consultant says Canadian banks should scrap employee sales targets because they're "forcing staff to sell things."
And Loblaw announced it will cover employees for medical marijuana, though there are some pretty big limitations on coverage.
Are you charged more when you wed?
The wedding business is a $5 billion industry in Canada. But are you being upsold, surcharged, and possibly ripped off just because you're a bride or a groom?
We find out if venues, florists, and limousine companies quote more for a wedding than for an anniversary party.
This week is our season finale. But we're getting started on next season, so send us your ideas about what we should investigate next at marketplace@cbc.ca.