8,391
edits
Changes
→Summary of the law
The effect of the lien right is that the warehouser can keep the goods until the bill for all expenses related to the storage is paid. The ''Warehouse Lien Act'' also gives the warehouser a statutory right to eventually sell the goods if the bill is not paid. [https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/rsbc-1996-c-480/latest/rsbc-1996-c-480.html#sec4_smooth Section 4] of the Act sets out the procedure that the warehouser must follow:
# '''Provide written notice:''' : The warehouser must give written notice to the owner that they intend to sell the stored goods. The notice must contain a summary of the charges owing. The notice must warn the consumer that they have 21 days to pay the bill.
# '''Advertise that the goods will be sold:''' : If the bill remains unpaid after the 21 days, the warehouser must then publish a newspaper advertisement at least once a week for two consecutive weeks announcing that the goods are to be sold. The sale date must be at least 14 days from the date of the first publication of the advertisement.
The scope of the ''Warehouse Lien Act'' appears to cover moving companies as well. If there is no agreement that the consumer can pay the bill later, a mover is entitled to full payment before the consumer gets the goods.