The Office of Consumer Protection (OPC) has filed three new criminal charges against influencer and young millionaire Alexandre Lachance, who allegedly falsely claimed to represent Hydro-Québec in order to enrich himself by selling heat pumps.
• Also read: Victim of millionaire influencer Alexandre Lachance: A counterfeit piece was sold for $7,000 even though it was worth… $150
• Also read: Millionaire Alexandre Lachance: This Quebec influencer risks a fine of almost $200,000
“The lawsuit alleges that the company and Mr. Lachance used the electrical system inspection as a pretext to obtain the sale of a heat pump,” explains Charles Tanguay, spokesman for the agency.
From a document obtained by Le Journal, we learn that the wealthy 26-year-old Quebecer worked for GCG Construction Inc. go door to door for the company. Their goal would have been to convince citizens to buy a heat pump using bogus arguments.
Alexandre Lachance boasts on TikTok about becoming a millionaire at the age of 26, but never reveals in detail what his job is. Photo from alexlach7’s Instagram account
“They falsely claimed to represent Hydro-Québec and they falsely claimed that the device would not cost the consumer anything due to the energy savings from the heat pump and the subsidy,” specifies Mr. Tanguay.
The influencer, who prides himself on being among the 1% of richest Quebecers on TikTok, is therefore accused of false or misleading representation, using a pretext to solicit a sale and falsely portraying a status or identity as stated his own. His hearing on the case will take place on October 18 at the Quebec Court in Chicoutimi.
“Little troublemakers”
The company GCG Construction Inc., also known as GCG Firme Énergie, faces four charges for the same reasons.
“Yes, I know that the company is accused by the OPC. […] We are not the ones asking them to impersonate Hydro representatives. They are little lateral thinkers. They do this to sell the product, but things went badly,” confirms owner Gérald Giroux.
Gérald Giroux, owner of the company GCG Construction Inc., who faces four charges filed by the OPC in this case. Photo from Johanne Vincent’s Facebook account
The latter points out that it is not responsible for the behavior of its local heat pump salespeople.
According to the OPC, 38 complaints have been filed against GCG Construction Inc. so far. At least 17 of these concern “misleading or unfair practices”.
Dangerous behind the wheel
The Journal has learned that Mr. Lachance could also receive 14 demerit points and a $2,400 fine for his reckless behavior.
On May 12, the influencer was behind the wheel of his luxurious Porsche in Quebec.
The 26-year-old influencer with one of the many luxury cars on his social networks. Photo from Instagram account alexlach7
A police officer intercepted him near the Pierre Laporte Bridge at around 10:40 p.m. as he was traveling at 112 km/h in a 60 km/h zone. As a result, he received his first speeding ticket for $822 and 10 penalty points.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) agent also gave him a second report for the same event. He accuses him of having “committed an act that is likely to endanger the safety of persons or property,” without providing further details.
The fine for this second offense is $1,567 and four demerit points. Alexandre Lachance is due in court soon in this case as he has pleaded not guilty to both charges.
A $150 coin sold for $7,000
Last April, a Charlevoix couple publicly condemned the 26-year-old man and his methods of lining their pockets.
Alexandre Lachance is said to have sold them a heat pump part for $7,000, even though it wasn’t worth more than $150. “I was elated when I found out that we had been deceived by him,” lamented Michèle Tremblay, resident of La Malbaie and victim of the influencer.
Michel Maltais and Michèle Tremblay in front of their heat pump, which takes them through a whole saga. PHOTO PROVIDED BY KARINE MALTAIS
A week earlier, Le Journal revealed that the OPC had targeted the influencer’s company called Habitation Provinciale Inc.
The office accused him of selling door-to-door without the legally required permit. The company instead used permission from another company.
Our request for an interview with Alexandre Lachance remained unanswered at the time of publication of this text.
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