Warning issued about Toronto-based company

FSCO continues to crack down on unlicensed financial companies attempting to circumvent the use of mortgage brokers by dealing directly with the public.

FSCO continues to crack down on unlicensed financial companies attempting to circumvent the use of mortgage brokers by dealing directly with the public.

“The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) is warning consumers that S.S.F Consultants is not licensed to do mortgage brokering business in Ontario,” FSCO states in an official release. “This company has been soliciting mortgage business from the public, dealing, trading and lending in mortgages, through their website, http://ssfconsultants.ca/.”

However, according to the company’s website, it offers fee-based comparison and referral services as referring clients to insurance, real estate, loans, accounting, and other professional services.

"It's incorrect. When you go to our website, when it says who we are and what we do it doesn't say we're mortgage brokers ... it says we are consultants who refer to professionals; we are not brokers," Mustafa Brown, operating manager of S.S.F Consultants told MortgageBrokerNews.ca. "FSCO's issue was that the website mentioned mortgages but we took out any mention of mortgages."

This is the third such warning issued by FSCO against companies looking to circumvent FSCO rules by avoiding the use of mortgage brokers and dealing directly with the public.

FSCO has provided the contact details for the company as well:

3250 Bloor Street West, 6th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M8X 2X9
Phone: 416-514-0803
Email: [email protected]
 
“Consumers should exercise caution if they are contacted by anyone from these coordinates,” FSCO states.