Consumer and Debt Problems

Here are the first steps and some useful resources for people in BC facing consumer or debt-related

problems such as:

• I don't have enough money to pay my debts.
• The bank is threatening foreclosure on my home.
• A debt collector is harassing me.
• I bought a product from a door-to-door salesperson and no longer want it.
• My car broke down and the dealer won’t fix it.

Bankruptcy costs money. The simplest will cost you about $1400. This may seem ironic if you can’t pay the debts you already have! However, many trustees in bankruptcy offer a free initial consultation and will negotiate a payment plan you can afford. There are some debts, such as support payments, court fines and some student loans, that won’t go away after a bankruptcy.

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Drew Jackson, February 2013.

Legal Help for British Columbians © Cliff Thorstenson and Courthouse Libraries BC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.

A sum of money or an obligation owed by one person to another. A "debtor" is a person responsible for paying a debt; a "creditor" is the person to whom the debt is owed.

In contract law, the expression, either orally or in writing, of a willingness to be bound by a proposed agreement, contract, or settlement. See "offer to settle."