After years of paying a $175 monthly bill to a company they viewed as sketchy, an Ontario family went searching for answers about what, exactly, the charge covered.
Instead of a water-heater rental, they found a 10-year agreement for home filtration products, with annual price increases built into the deal.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit thread, the Ontario poster said Simply Green BPY had been charging the household "for as long as we can remember." With the contract missing, the family was unsure whether the payment was tied to a water heater and feared "forever" might mean they were stuck indefinitely.
After commenters urged the family to demand paperwork, the original poster returned with an update: "Apparently we were paying $60 for a HEPA Filter (Air Filter) and another $60 for a Water Filter, so no Water Heater at all."
The poster added that the contract lasts 10 years and had only four or five months left, which is why the family decided to let it run out. They also said the monthly total had risen because "in the Terms and Conditions, it says the bill will increase by 3.5% every year."
More background
A recurring bill can fade into the background of everyday life — especially in the unusual case that the paperwork is missing, the company name has changed, and no one in the household is fully sure what is actually being rented.
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At $175 a month, the charge comes to $2,100 a year.
The OP described the items as "two useless overpriced doohickies."
The homeowner also said the billing would not stop automatically when the 10-year term ended. According to their Reddit update, they would still have to contact the company to close the account.
What can be done?
One user stressed creating a paper trail. "Make sure the request for the contract is in writing," they said, adding that documentation matters "because their goal will be to dodge, deny, deflect in the hopes that you'll give up and go away."
Once the paperwork is available, consumers can weigh the remaining cost of the contract against the price of canceling, buying replacement equipment outright, or getting legal help. In Ontario, it may also be worth checking provincial consumer-protection rules or speaking with a paralegal if the terms seem unfair or confusing.
Redditors came to the OP's aid with a lot of advice.
One user said, "From the rental costs I've seen, people could replace their heater every two years, and it would still be cheaper."
Another commented, "Some people have also had success buying a new water heater and having it installed, then notifying the old company to come pick up their equipment by X date if they wish."
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