Booking a bin at an Ottawa company's yard or at home: are my rights different?

Yes. Where and how you book changes which cancellation rules apply under Ontario's Consumer Protection Act, 2002.

Booked at home: an agreement negotiated or concluded in person somewhere other than the supplier's place of business is a direct agreement. Every direct agreement must be in writing (s.42), and under s.43(1) you may cancel it without any reason from the date you enter into it until 10 days after you receive the written copy.

Booked at the company's yard: the Act's definition of a direct agreement leaves out agreements made at the supplier's place of business, so the 10-day right in s.43(1) does not cover that booking. What you can do then depends on the written terms and the Act's other rules.

Booked online or by phone: a booking formed by text-based internet communications is an internet agreement (s.38 to s.40). The supplier discloses set information, gives you an express opportunity to accept or decline, and delivers a copy in writing. You may cancel within 7 days only where the disclosure or the accept-or-decline step was missing, and within 30 days where no copy is delivered. A phone booking is a remote agreement, with a similar disclosure-and-copy scheme (s.44 to s.47).

Booked for a later drop-off: an agreement where delivery, performance or payment in full is not made when you enter it is a future performance agreement. Over $50 it must be in writing (s.22), and if you do not receive a copy that meets the requirements, you may cancel within one year (s.23).

We found no Consumer Protection Act rule specific to deposits or card pre-authorisation for bins, so ask how and when the card is charged.

Before paying, read the agreement's cancellation clause and note which of these booking types yours is.