If I pay for a pardon, what should I get?

What should you get if you par for a pardon? The first obvious answer is that you should eventually receive a pardon from the National Parole Board of Canada. I say eventually because any pardon application takes some time to prepare, submit, review and eventually grant.

It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, the company you choose to process it or even if you are doing the application all on your own. If you are applying for a pardon it takes some time to put everything together. But if you are trying to choose a company to handle your paperwork for you, you should know what you are getting into. The fact is that some companies will sell you a pardon service and do nothing more than “help” you do the work on your own.

Here are a few examples of the legal disclaimer from a few pardon services companies.  It almost sounds if they all exist under one ownership but I don’t think that is the case. What is more likely is that there is a little bit of legal-jargon-plagiarism going on (my own website has been hit that way on several occasions). I haven’t written the names of the companies in question because the purpose of this blog is not to make enemies. The purpose is to help you, the reader be informed. But rest assured these are actual disclaimers from actual companies in their respective cities.

Company # 1: Vancouver, British Columbia

Co. #1 helps its customers navigate the bureaucracy associated with the filing and processing of applications for pardons and U.S. entry waivers and record purges. We do not provide legal advice. Should you require legal assistance please consult a lawyer.

 

Company # 2: Toronto, Ontario

Co. # 2 helps its customers navigate the bureaucracy associated with the filing and processing of applications for pardons and U.S. entry waivers. We do not provide legal advice. Should you require legal assistance please consult a lawyer.

Company # 3: Toronto, Ontario

Co. # 3 helps its customers navigate the bureaucracy associated with the filing and processing of applications for pardons and U.S. entry waivers and record purges. We do not provide legal advice. Should you require legal assistance please consult a lawyer. 

And finally here is the term of service agreement from my own company:

The National Pardon Centre: Montreal, Quebec / Toronto Ontario

I understand that upon file activation the National Pardon Centre will act on my behalf for the purpose of obtaining, for me, a Canadian pardon, purge and/or file destruction from the National Parole Board of Canada, and/or a USA Entry Waiver or Visa Waiver from the DHS (Department of Homeland Security).

So you can see that at the National Pardon Centre we are doing the work on your behalf, not just helping you do it yourself. Of course sometimes we need your help too. For example, if you cannot visit our office in person then you need to provide us with a set of your fingperints because we can’t scan fingers we don’t have in front of us. But with everything else, if we can do it for you we are going to. This is because at the National Pardon Centre we believe in providing quality service at a reasonable price. And we also understand that a good service is worth paying for.

At the National Pardon Centre we want you to get your pardon and we want you to be happy with the efforts we will go to in order to make sure that happens. If you want to be comfortable with your choice then please call us. We will be happy to help with your Canadian pardon and/or US entry waiver application.

And finally, if you have any questions, or you’re still unsure, please feel free to contact me directly:

Michael Ashby

Communications Director and Co-founder of the National Pardon Centre