Governing Legislation and Resources for Consumer Protection (11:II)

A. Legislation

The statutes to consult include the following:

Sale of Goods Act, RSBC 1996, c 410 [SGA].

• The SGA regulates contracts for the sale (or lease) of goods, but not services. The SGA is not concerned with the ethics of the transaction unless there is also a defect in the manner in which the contract is carried out (e.g. if the goods are not delivered, are damaged, or are unfit for the purpose for which they were sold). The protections are stronger for new goods than for goods that the purchaser knows are used.

Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, SBC 2004, c 2 [BPCPA].

• The BPCPA is concerned with the ethics of a transaction, such as deceptive and unconscionable practices as well as information requirements for many types of consumer contracts. The BPCPA also gives consumers the right under some circumstances to get out of contracts in which the consumer has ongoing obligations under the contract, such as time share, gym memberships, and book of the month contracts. If the client wishes to get out of future obligations under a contract, see Section V.A: Direct Sales, below. In addition, the Act regulates businesses that offer such contracts and other transactions that are open to abuse, such as direct sales and payday lenders. One of the key features of the Act is that it provides for statutory causes of action for certain kinds of consumer transactions.

Motor Dealer Act, RSBC 1996, c 316 [MDA].

• The MDA sets out the requirements for motor dealers selling vehicles to retail consumers. It requires disclosure of the prior history of a car (for example, its use as a taxi) and any damage suffered over $2,000, and other important information. Clients with consumer complaints regarding car dealers should be directed to the Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia, which has the authority to investigate consumer complaints and provide dispute resolution. Note that some amendments to the MDA regarding the Customer Compensation Fund recently came into force on 2016-05-19.

Personal Property Security Act, RSBC 1996, c 359 [PPSA].

• The PPSA governs all security agreements as well as chattel mortgages, conditional sales, floating charges, pledges, trust indentures, trust receipts, assignments, consignments, leases, trusts, and transfers of chattel paper that secure payment or performance of an obligation. A security interest is an interest in goods or other property that secures payment or performance of an obligation for a lender. It used to matter who retained title; however, recent cases abolished title as the most important factor. See also Section VI: Conditional Sales Contracts and Security Agreements.

Bills of Exchange Act, RSC 1985, c. B-4, ss. 188-192.

• The BEA states that a promissory note is a written promise to pay a specified sum of money at a fixed time or on-demand. These are commonly used in conjunction with executory contracts, where one party has fulfilled their material obligations and the other party still has some or all outstanding.

B. Resources

A list of resources which clients might find useful:

Consumer Protection BC (previously the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority)

Toll-free: 1-888-564-9963

Website: http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca

• Consumer Protection BC operates at arm’s length from government and has responsibility for a range of licensing, inspection, investigation, and enforcement activities. If consumer protection legislation appears to have been violated, the aggrieved party can phone Consumer Protection BC to report the infraction. This office has a mandate to receive and act on consumer complaints generally.

NOTE: This is the office to contact to seek action by the Director under the statutory causes of action found in consumer protection legislation.

Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia

Telephone: (604) 574-5050

Website: http://www.mvsabc.com

• The VSA is a regulatory agency that oversees the retail sales of motor vehicles in British Columbia. This is the office to contact if a consumer believes that the MDA has been violated or one has questions regarding the provisions in the MDA.

Better Business Bureau

Telephone: (604) 682-2711 or 1-888-803-1222

Website: http://www.bbb.org/mbc

• Businesses voluntarily join this association, which provides self-policing of the business community. Complaints against a member company can be made at this office, which offers an extra-judicial resolution process for conflicts between consumers and member companies. Information about a specific member company can also be obtained.

Dial-a-Law

Telephone: (604) 687-4680 or 1-800-565-5297

Website: http://www.cbabc.org/For-the-Public/Dial-A-Law

• This service provides pre-recorded summaries on the law pertaining to a wide variety of issues in consumer law. Some useful tapes include:
  • Door-to-Door Sales, Time-Shares and Contracts You Can Cancel: 255
  • Shopping by Phone, Mail or the Internet: 256
  • Buying Defective Goods: 257
  • Dishonest Business Practices and Schemes: 260

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 15, 2019.

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