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Difference between revisions of "Where to Get Help for Consumer Law Essentials"

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| width="20%" | '''Access Pro Bono'''
| width="20%" | '''Access Pro Bono'''
| width="40%" | Offers clinics where lawyers provide free legal advice to people who cannot afford a lawyer and who cannot get legal aid.  
| width="40%" | Volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice to qualifying persons who cannot obtain legal aid or afford a lawyer.
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-878-7400 (Greater Vancouver)<br/>
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-878-7400 (Greater Vancouver)<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-877-762-6664<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-877-762-6664<br/>
[http://www.accessprobono.ca www.accessprobono.ca]
[http://www.accessprobono.ca www.accessprobono.ca]
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| width="20%" | '''Better Business Bureau of Mainland BC'''
| width="20%" | '''Better Business Bureau of Mainland British Columbia'''
| width="40%" | Assists British Columbians (except on Vancouver Island; see below) in dealing with consumer problems.
| width="40%" | A non-profit organization that assists people in the Lower Mainland and interior BC in finding businesses they can trust.  
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-682-2711<br/>
| width="40%" | Phone toll-free: 1-888-803-1222<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-888-803-1222<br/>
Office hours: 9:00am – 3:00pm<br/>
Fax: 604-681-1544 <br/>
Email: contactus@mbc.bbb.org<br/>
Email: contactus@mbc.bbb.org<br/>
[http://www.mbc.bbb.org www.mbc.bbb.org]
[http://www.mbc.bbb.org www.mbc.bbb.org]
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| width="20%" | '''Better Business Bureau of Victoria'''
| width="20%" | '''Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island'''
| width="40%" | Assists people on Vancouver Island in dealing with consumer problems.
| width="40%" | A non-profit organization that assists people on Vancouver Island in finding businesses they can trust.  
| width="40%" | Phone: 250-386-6348 <br/>
| width="40%" | Phone toll-free: 1-877-826-4222 <br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-877-826-4222 <br/>
Email: info@vi.bbb.org<br/>
Office hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm<br/>
Fax: 250-386-2367 <br/>
[http://www.vi.bbb.org www.vi.bbb.org]
[http://www.vi.bbb.org www.vi.bbb.org]
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| width="20%" | '''Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)'''
| width="40%" | The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre investigates reports of scams whether by telephone, facsimile, postal mail or the internet. You can report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
| width="40%" | Phone toll-free: 1-888-495-8501 <br/>
Phone from overseas: 1-705-495-8501 <br/>
Fax: 1-888-654-9426<br/>
Mail: Box 686 North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8 <br/>
Email: info@antifraudcentre.ca<br/>
[http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca]
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| width="20%" | '''Canadian Home Builders Association of BC'''
| width="40%" | Helps consumers plan their renovation and explains what to do when there are problems.
| width="40%" | Phone toll-free: 1-800-933-6777<br/>
[http://www.gvhba.org www.gvhba.org]
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| width="20%" | '''Clicklaw'''
| width="40%" | An Internet portal for public legal information and education in British Columbia.
| width="40%" | [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca www.clicklaw.bc.ca]
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| width="20%" | '''ConsumerInformation.ca'''
| width="40%" | An Internet portal site from Industry Canada’s Office of Consumer Affairs. It provides useful information about how to protect yourself from scams, including identity theft, <span class="noglossary">advance</span> fee loan scams, telephone scams and more.
| width="40%" | Email: consumer.information@ic.gc.ca <br/>
[http://www.consumerinformation.ca www.consumerinformation.ca ]
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| width="20%" | '''Competition Bureau'''
| width="20%" | '''Competition Bureau'''
| width="40%" | The Competition Bureau deals with complaints about scams in the marketplace.  
| width="40%" | A federal agency that helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions. They help combat deceptive selling practices and scams.  
| width="40%" | Phone: 819-997-4282<br/>
| width="40%" | Phone toll-free: 1-800-348-5358 <br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-348-5358 <br/>
Phone toll-free TTY: 1-800-642-3844 (for <span class="noglossary">hearing</span>-impaired only)<br/>
Phone toll-free TTY: 1-800-642-3844 (for <span class="noglossary">hearing</span>-impaired only)<br/>
[http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca www.competitionbureau.gc.ca]
[http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca www.competitionbureau.gc.ca]
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| width="20%" | '''Consumer Protection BC'''
| width="20%" | '''Consumer Protection BC'''
| width="40%" | Consumer Protection BC is the regulator of a variety of industries and specific consumer contracts in the province. It’s mandate is to licence and inspect its regulated businesses, respond to consumer inquiries, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities under the laws they administer.
| width="40%" | A non-profit organization that helps protect consumers in BC. They provide assistance and investigate complaints relating to certain types of consumer problems and contracts.  
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-320-1667 <br/>
| width="40%" | Phone toll-free: 1-888-564-9963 <br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-888-564-9963 <br/>
Email: info@consumerprotectionbc.ca<br/>
Email: info@consumerprotectionbc.ca<br/>
[http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca www.consumerprotectionbc.ca]
[http://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca www.consumerprotectionbc.ca]
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| width="20%" | '''Credit Counseling Society of BC'''
| width="40%" | Provides assistance with debt problems.
| width="40%" | Phone toll-free: 1-888-527-8999<br/>
Email: info@nomoredebts.org<br/>
[http://www.nomoredebts.org www.nomoredebts.org]
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| width="20%" | '''Dial-A-Law'''
| width="40%" | Dial-A-Law is a library of practical legal information. It is operated by the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association. You can listen to the Dial-A-Law scripts over the phone, or read them on the website. The scripts are available in English, Chinese and Punjabi.
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-687-4680 <br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-565-5297<br/>
[http://www.dialalaw.org www.dialalaw.org]
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| width="20%" | '''Lawyer Referral'''
| width="20%" | '''Lawyer Referral'''
| width="40%" | Offers advice and information from a lawyer for a fee of $25 plus taxes for the first 30 minutes.
| width="40%" | The Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch offers referrals to lawyers who can provide a half-hour consultation for $25.  
| width="40%" | Phone: 604-687-3221 (Greater Vancouver)<br/>
| width="40%" | Lower Mainland: 604-687-3221<br/>
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 from anywhere else in the province.<br/>
Toll-free: 1-800-663-1919<br/>
[http://www.cba.org/bc/initiatives/main/lawyer_referral.aspx www.cba.org/bc/]
[http://www.cbabc.org]
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| width="20%" | '''Mediate BC'''
| width="40%" | Mediate BC specializes in a wide variety of dispute resolution tools and processes.
| width="40%" | [http://www.mediatebc.com www.mediatebc.com]
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| width="20%" | '''People's Law School'''
| width="40%" | View the online animations "You Owe Money" and "Someone Owes You Money." 
| width="40%" | [http://www.publiclegaled.bc.ca/ www.publiclegaled.bc.ca]; click on "Media" and then "Videos"
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