February 25, 2022 Insurance Decisions and Freeze and cease trade orders

Montréal – On February 10, 2022, further to a request filed by the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the Superior Court approved the agreement entered into by the AMF and the defendants Harold Couturier, 9352-3421 Québec inc. (doing business as Crédit 1234) and Gestion Crédit 1234 com inc.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Superior Court issued a permanent injunction order against the defendants. It also ordered the defendants and all their officers, employees, representatives and agents to cease all insurance activities governed by the Insurers Act and the Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services and related to automobile insurance contracts.

Background

Customers who wanted to buy an automobile from Norm Auto and who required financing would be referred to Crédit 1234 or Gestion Crédit 1234 com inc. During the financing process, Harold Couturier, majority shareholder and president of Crédit 1234, told some of the customers that he was responsible for handling the insurance component. Mr. Couturier, Crédit 1234 and Gestion Crédit 1234 com inc. would then produce fake insurance documents and give the customers fake cover notes. As a result, some customers who financed their vehicle with Crédit 1234 and/or Gestion Crédit 1234 com inc., including those who purchased a vehicle at Norm Auto, took possession of their vehicle without being insured as prescribed by law.

Call to consumers

If you purchased an insurance product through Harold Couturier, Crédit 1234 or Gestion Crédit 1234 com inc., contact our Information Centre without delay. We can answer your questions, and the information you provide could help us better protect consumers.

The Autorité des marchés financiers is the regulatory and oversight body for Québec’s financial sector.

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Information:

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