What Does "Win or No Charge"

Really Mean?

 

Not much. It does not mean what you think it means.

 

You think it means a complete acquittal and dismissal of the charges with no fine, no points and no record to raise your insurance rates, right? Wrong.

 

You think that if you get convicted, you will get your money back? Wrong again.

 

If they do not get all of the above, you do not have to pay them anything. Wrong again.

 

 

If they just get your fine reduced,

they call that a "win."

Generally reducing the fine is very easy to do. More often than not the crown will accept a deal to save court time and trade a reduced charge or fine for a quick guilty plea. The points are fixed by law. The JP or Judge cannot reduce them without changing the charge to some lesser offence.

 

 

You still get a conviction

on your driving record.

Your insurance company will definitely hear about it and probably raise your insurance premium or insurance rate. That is the real world you are living in and there is little you can do about it.

 

The Law Society of Upper Canada found the following:

"The Paralegal engaged in professional misconduct by misleadingly advertising on his website, “We Win or It’s Free    " "

 

ZAPPIA – Professional misconduct – Penalty – In an Agreed Statement of Facts, the Paralegal acknowledged that he engaged in professional misconduct by misleadingly advertising on his website, “We Win or It’s Free” without clarifying that he charged a small non-refundable administrative fee and that the offer of a contingency fee did not include criminal clients’ matters – He also admitted that he did not use a trust account to hold money from clients on account of fees and disbursements not yet rendered – The Paralegal had no prior disciplinary record, accepted responsibility, and was remorseful – He had changed his practice in respect of trust accounts and was continuing to work with the Society on acceptable advertising – In accordance with a joint submission, the Paralegal was reprimanded and was ordered to pay costs of $2,500 to the Society.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL JUDGMENT OF THE LAW SOCIETY

https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onlst/doc/2015/2015onlsth34/2015onlsth34.html

Win or No  Charge offers? BEWARE

Win Or Free  is a gimmick.  If companies advertising this "guarantee" will  not give your money back in full, if they do not win your case outright, shop around.

 

THEY CALL GETTING A REDUCTION IN POINTS OR FINES A WIN. THAT IS NOT THE SAME AS A COMPLETE DISMISSAL

 

You will probably find a better "deal" somewhere else.

 

If they offer you a full money back guarantee over the phone, ask them to fax you the guarantee so you can have a look at it before you sign.

No Win, No Charge Ads? Beware

 

You have seen the ads.

 

Traffic tickets agents, with years of insider experience, are offering you what looks like a terrific deal.

 

Are they saying they will win your case or refund your money?

 

Most people think "Win or No Charge" means that these traffic ticket agents will get your case discharged, dismissed or an acquittal and you will not be fined, and will not have a conviction or points on your record.

 

WRONG!           WRONG!              WRONG!

 

 

 

"We Win or Your Money Back"

 

How can you lose? You have a traffic ticket. You know the fine is bad enough, but the points loss and the probable increase in your insurance premiums will be a killer. Right?

 

BEWARE When you see ads from some paralegal claiming years of traffic court experience offering you a guaranteed no win, no cost deal

 

Know this: Win or lose in court, you still have to pay the agent's fees up front in full.

 

So what do these offers really mean?

 

 

What does "win" mean? What does "money back or free" mean?

 

If you think it means a complete dismissal of the charges with no fine, no points and no record to raise your insurance rates, You are dead wrong.

 

If you think that if you get convicted, you will get your money back?  Good luck collecting your refund. It is not going to happen.

 

 

They will tell you that if they get the fine or points reduced, that is a win. Generally that is very easy to do. The crown will almost always accept a deal to save court time and trade a reduced charge or fine for a quick guilty plea.

 

Traffic court hearings are very informal. Deals and discounts are the order of the day. If you have any sort of half decent reason, you can get your fine reduced.

 

Crowns and judges and your agent just want to get through the cases on their list and go home They will usually make any deal which will save them time.

 

You may actually be completely innocent, but the courts assume the police wouldn't have charged you for nothing, so human nature being what it is, you are really presumed guilty. The police officer's word counts for a lot more than yours does in court.

 

You still get a conviction and a record on your driving abstract and your insurance company will definitely hear about it. That is the real world you are living in and there is little you can do about it.