Difference between revisions of "Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Legal Information (11:VIII)"

The ''Electronic Transaction Act'', SBC 2001, c 10 [''ETA''] prevents parties from challenging contracts solely on the grounds that they are  entered into electronically. The ''ETA'' removes legal uncertainty concerning the enforceability of contracts entered into electronically, and  is primarily designed to facilitate commercial relations using the Internet. However, s 17 of the Act provides an element of consumer protection. It provides that an electronic record created by an individual is not enforceable where the individual made a material error in the record and: (i.) the electronic agent did not provide an opportunity to prevent or correct the error; (ii.) the individual notifies the other party that an error has been made as soon as practicable after learning of the error; (iii.) the person making the error takes reasonable  steps to return the consideration in accordance with the instructions of the other party or destroy the consideration if requested to do so; and (iv.) the individual has not received any material benefit or value from the consideration.

British Columbia's new Civil Resolution Tribunal Act, SBC 2012, c 25, establishes a new dispute resolution body, the Civil Resolution Tribunal.  The Tribunal provides a new online venue for the resolution of small claims matters.  It encourages people to use a broad range of collaborative dispute resolution tools to resolve their disputes as early as possible, while still preserving adjudication as a last resort.