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Difference between revisions of "Income Security (Legal Information for Indigenous People)"
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Income Security (Legal Information for Indigenous People) (view source)
Revision as of 20:00, 8 March 2023
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===Issues on and off reserve=== | ===Issues on and off reserve=== | ||
Debt can feel overwhelming, but the good news is that there are BC laws that specifically offer protections to debtors. The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act offers many protections to consumers in its regulations of business practices. | Debt can feel overwhelming, but the good news is that there are BC laws that specifically offer protections to debtors. The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act offers many protections to consumers in its regulations of business practices. | ||
Debt collectors harassing you with phone calls? You can stop debt collector’s calls with a simple letter asking for all communication to be in writing. You can find this letter on the Consumer Protection BC website www. consumerprotectionbc.ca. To find it, go to the “consumer help” section, then click on “debt collection.” Save proof that you sent the letter. If they continue to call you, then you can report to Consumer Protection. Consumer Protection responds to consumer inquiries and investigates alleged violations of consumer protection laws. 1-888 -564-9963 | |||
Similarly, the Vehicle Sales Authority of BC can help you address car dealerships with bad sales practices. To make a complaint call 1-877-294-9889. | |||
Do you need help figuring out how to manage your debt load? The Credit Counselling Society 1-888-951-8602 provides free and confidential help with debt, such as setting up repayment plans, debt consolidation, and other ways to reduce the interest you have to pay. “We understand debt happens to the best of us, and too much debt is something we never planned to have.” | |||
====Know Your Rights==== | |||
Creditors cannot garnish your wages or put liens on any property located on a reserve. Section 89 (1) of the Indian Act provides that “the real and personal property of an Indian or a band situated on a reserve is not subject to charge, pledge, mortgage, attachment, levy, seizure, distress or execution in favour or at the instance of any person other than an Indian or a band.” | |||
====Two Exceptions to Note==== | |||
* Conditional Sales Agreements: If you buy a truck on credit and don’t pay, then the dealer can come after you for payment or to repossess the vehicle. | |||
* If the “creditor” is Indigenous: This is how, for example, Family Maintenance can enforce (garnish wages on reserve) a child support order for unpaid child support - because the money is owed for the Indigenous child. | |||
