Some months later I was stopped by police officer and photometer tested, my windows were NOT legal and far from it. The limit in Quebec is 30% while mine showed at 19%.
I contacted Derand to see if something could be worked out for the employee (Sunny) had probably made an honest mistake and installed the wrong tint in the front.
It turns out I was misinformed, after multiple emails it was clear that no one at Derand seems to know the laws concerning tinting of either Ontario or Quebec.
This is what Sunny replied with: "By law in north America, you are not allowed any tint on the 2 front windows, that is the actual law written. " - A simple look at both governments (Ontario/Quebec) website clearly state that it is legal and in Quebec it has been that way for over 20 years since I always had them tinted at the legal limit for all my cars.
Then he proceeded with the following: "When we tint cars we specifically specify that tint is not legal on the 2 fronts but what they tolerant is 35% but most of the people get away with 25%..."
If that is the case then why did they put 35% on mine, knowing full well I already had a slight factory tint? Why not install a higher tint so I remain legal?
Then Donald replied with: "on the bill is says tint is illegal period, any aftermarket accessories sold by Derand may not be street legal, it is the customers responsibility to determine that" -saying on the bill it might be illegal does not absolve one if you've informed you client it would be OK when he clearly asked to be legal BEFORE the installation.
Donald also stated: "so you’re trying to say if i sell you an aftermarket exhaust and i say its legal and you get a ticket for the exhaust that it’s my fault and i should be paying the ticket? Doesn’t make any sense, no" basically he's implying he can say whatever he wishes to a customer and then just because the final bill of sale says another thing it's OK. As a costumer I expect them to inform me properly and that they know their products and it's laws, they claim to be the professionals, not me.
Finally when I spoke with Andre (the owner) in person he also indicated he was not aware of the laws as he asked why I had removed the tint on both sides of the front windows? I explained that it was the law that both front windows be no less than 30% (as indicated on the government website) he replied with "No it isn't". Andre stated that they installed 35% in the front and with the 15% factory tint it would be bring me in the 19% range, so basically agreeing that they made my vehicle illegal when I explicitly asked to have a legal tint.
I could have accepted that it was simply an error on their part not installing the proper tint and them having the courtesy to reimburse part of the work (since I had to remove it) and the ticket, I would have left a returning costumer but their total lack of wanting to take responsibility, disregard for customer service AND that they sell products for which they obviously have no clear understanding of the laws will not have me coming back there for their less than professional service.
Take your business somewhere else.
