Marketplace

"We're on the trail of false claims, rounding up big names with their hands in your pockets. We're cracking five cases that will have you yelling, ""You're Busted!"" Has Air Canada come through on its promise to improve punctuality? And is that high-end Kobe beef you're paying for actually Kobe beef? Tom Harrington and Erica Johnson are on the case."

"We revisit two stories, and see what happened after the Marketplace bust. Dirty Hospitals: have they kept their promise to clean up? Clean Water, Dirty Tricks: Are they still spouting the same old scam?"

This time, we're testing air duct cleaners; yup air ducts... the things that carry hot and cold air from your furnace through your house. Watch what happens when the duct cleaners discover our hidden cameras and we discover they're better at cleaning wallets than air ducts.

"Tom Harrington investigates flame retardants in our homes and reveals the toxic chemicals used to prevent or slow down the spread of fire may be making us sick, and may not be as effective as you think. From blood tests to fire tests to hidden camera, Marketplace is putting flame retardants in the hot seat. We want to know: are you getting burned?"

"Last week's investigation of hotel cleanliness got Canada talking last week. Now, we're digging deeper - testing how well chains are maintaining their hotels. We reveal some of the most surprising results yet, and what the companies could be doing to clean up their act and protect their guests."

"The price for premium gas blends is as much as 15 cents more per litre than regular gas. Gas companies make the pitch that premium's better for your car. While it's true that some car makers recommend putting premium fuel in their high-end models, what about most of us who drive regular cars? Marketplace takes on Canada's big gas station chains and asks whether Canadians are being misled into paying millions more at the pumps than they need. It's the Marketplace gas challenge: Premium vs. Regular. You won't believe what we find out"

"When it's time to get our teeth checked, most of us trust our dentist to determine the treatment plan and how much it will cost. They are the experts, aren't they? Co-host Erica Johnson puts dentists to the test: how does one know for sure what work needs to be done and how much it should cost? We reveal that dentists themselves can't even agree. In Money Where Your Mouth Is, we send a researcher with hidden cameras to 20 different dentists in Toronto and Vancouver. We want to know: what treatments are recommended for her pearly whites? We discover a wide variation in treatments and costs. It seems dentistry is not that black and white after all -- there are various shades of grey. Marketplace wants to know why -- to get answers for the millions of Canadians who visit their dentist every year."

"Buying a new car can be a gamble: you could end up landing a lemon. So what happens if you buy a faulty car that just can't be fixed? After hearing from car owners across the country who claimed they bought a lemon, Erica Johnson goes searching for answers. She discovers just how difficult it is for owners to get help - from dealerships and from automakers. And she reveals a possible solution on the other side of the border: lemon laws that protect owners from getting squeezed when something goes wrong. Plus - Erica Johnson takes a closer look at Apple's latest smartphone. Is it as consumer-friendly as it claims? Check out this week's Busted!"

"Marketplace is back at it again, putting home repairmen to the test. We're wiring up homes with hidden cameras, rigging a simple, everyday household problem, to find out if repairmen we invite in can figure it out. Turns out, not every repairman can diagnose the problem. This week, we wade into the world of backyard pools. In the pool business any type of handyman could show up. How would you know if they're really doing a good job? Can you trust them to fix your problem? Is your money well spent? Or will you be sunk? When it comes to testing pool repairmen, Marketplace didn't find much depth."

Canada has the highest rate of hospital acquired infections in the developed world, and Canada's consumer watchdog wants to know why. Erica Johnson puts hospital cleanliness to the test, and finds a mess that is making you sick. With hidden cameras, including Canada's first hidden camera glo gel test, insider interviews and expert opinions, Marketplace uncovers why people in Canadian hospitals are too often getting sicker instead of better.

You've got a problem with something in your home, and you need it fixed -- fast! But who do you call? And who can you trust? We put home service trades-people to the test, in a house wired up with hidden cameras. We watch them while they work on what should be a fairly simple repair job -- only to get charged for unnecessary work.

Tom Harrington exposes the aggressive practices of a job search marketing firm -- one that acts more like a recruitment agency. While this firm does have all sorts of clients, it seems to specifically target new Canadians, charging them for services and information widely -- and freely -- available. "Recruitment Rip-Off" takes us inside the operation, and includes heartbreaking testimony from the victims.

In this year's Top 10 countdown of Lousy Labels, Erica Johnson finds the truth behind the latest buzzwords on food packaging. It will make you think twice before filling up your shopping cart.

In "Trouble for Rent," Tom Harrington meets tenants of a national rental company and uncovers a disturbing history of unhealthy homes, poor maintenance and corporate callousness. On hidden camera we hear what tenants are told when shopping for a new apartment and with the help of experts we put apartments to the test. What we find is troubling so we go looking for answers from the people at the top.

'Marketplace' launches our 39th season with a special one-hour episode that takes on Canada's major store chains.

The labels say 'organic' and 'natural' -- but are they really? Erica Johnson separates the truly green products from the 'greenwashed' -- products that look green, but really aren't -- in our top ten countdown of lousy labels.

Debt collectors: their business can be ferocious. But when they cross the line, can you count on the rules to protect you? Erica Johnson investigates.

Tom Harrington investigates what insurance companies don't want you to know.

Investigating the world of shady roofers with contractors Mike Holmes.

Investigating the oral contraceptive Yasmin.

Investigating homeopathy, the fastest growing alternative health practice in Canada.

It's labelled halibut, but can you count on it? When you buy fish are you getting what you pay for? Erica Johnson goes fishing for answers.

Firefighters know there's one thing that can help save lives in a fire, so you'll be surprised to learn this one thing is still missing in thousands of buildings across Canada. Also: Erica Johnson investigates a new wave of so-called American-style non-profit charities offering debt advice to Canadians.

Wendy Mesley investigates the story behind huge bills many Canadians rack up from using their cellphones.

The pitch is how to get rich, or is it how to get ripped off? Erica Johnson investigates who's getting rich off Rich Dad.

Erica Johnson and contractor Mike Holmes reveal a new twist on home inspectors: more Canadians are buying houses that were formerly used as marijuana grow-ops.

Like any commodity, electricity and natural gas prices go up and down with the markets. In some provinces, you have a choice when it comes to who will supply your power - a public or a private utility. Ontario and Alberta have deregulated both utilities, and in Manitoba and B.C., you can pick your natural gas provider.

We’ve all heard puppy horror stories about sick dogs from bad breeders. But many pet stores promise problem-free dogs from first-rate breeders.

In a split second, do you think you could tell the difference between a real or an imitation gun? Imagine if that gun were pointed in your direction in what could be a life-or-death situation.

Who doesn't want to win $500,000? That’s why so many Canadians are playing the Reader’s Digest sweepstakes. But now some of those people feel confused by the sweepstakes' marketing.

Ailing Canadians are spending up to $200 a session in clinics and even buying the $20,000 "miracle" machine called the EPFX for home use. It's name is as intriguing as its health claims. For those suffering with a serious illness, they are desperate for a miracle cure.

Thinking of buying a used car? You’re not alone. In this slowing economy, people are looking to save cash whenever and wherever they can.