Where to Get Help for Consumer Law Essentials

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It’s not always easy to spot scams and new ones are invented every day. If you suspect that you may be a target of a scam, remember that you are not alone. Here are places that can help if you want to report a scam or if you need more information.

Access Pro Bono Offers clinics where lawyers provide free legal advice to people who cannot afford a lawyer and who cannot get legal aid. Website: www.accessprobono.ca

Phone: 604-878-7400 (Greater Vancouver)
Toll-free: 1-877-762-6664

Better Business Bureau of Mainland BC Assists British Columbians (except Vancouver Island; see below) in dealing with consumer problems. Website: www.mbc.bbb.org

Phone: 604-682-2711
Toll-free (250 area code only): 1-888-803-1222
Office hours: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Fax: 604-681-1544
Email: contactus@mbc.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Victoria Assists people on Vancouver Island in dealing with consumer problems. Website: www.vi.bbb.org

Phone: 250-386-6348
Toll-free: 1-877-826-4222
Office hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Fax: 250-386-2367

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) 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. Website: www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca

Phone toll-free: 1-888-495-8501
Overseas: 1-705-495-8501
Fax: 1-888-654-9426
Box 686 North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8
E-mail: info@antifraudcentre.ca

Canadian Consumer Information Gateway 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, advance fee loan scams, telephone scams and more. Website: www.consumerinformation.ca

E-mail: consumer.information@ic.gc.ca

Competition Bureau The Competition Bureau deals with complaints about scams in the marketplace. Website: www.competitionbureau.gc.ca

Phone: 819-997-4282
Toll-free: 1-800-348-5358
Toll-free TTY: 1-800-642-3844 (for hearing-impaired only)

Consumer Protection BC Information about how to prevent consumer problems and what to do if you have a problem. Website: www.consumerprotectionbc.ca

Phone: 604-320-1667
Toll-free: 1-888-564-9963
Email: info@consumerprotectionbc.ca

Credit Counseling Society of BC Provides assistance with debt problems. Website: www.nomoredebts.org

Phone toll-free: 1-888-527-8999

Dial-A-Law 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. Website: www.dialalaw.org

Phone: 604-687-4680
Toll-free: 1-800-565-5297



Better Business Bureau Assists people dealing with consumer problems. Call 604-682-2711 in Greater Vancouver, 1-250-386-6348 on Vancouver Island, or 1-888-803-1222 in the interior of the province.

www.mbc.bbb.org/consumers

ConsumerInformation.ca An online gateway that explains how to make a consumer complaint.

www.consumerinformation.ca

Canadian Home Builders Association of BC Helps consumers plan their renovation and explains what to do when there are problems. Call toll-free 1-800-933-6777.

www.gvhba.org

Consumer Protection BC Provides protections for BC consumers. Call toll-free 1-888-564-9963 and ask them to direct you to the right place.

www.consumerprotectionbc.ca; go to "Help for Consumers" and select "How Can We Help?"

Clicklaw A portal for public legal information and education in British Columbia.

www.clicklaw.bc.ca

Credit Counseling Society The Credit Counseling Society can help you manage your finances and deal with your debt problems. Call toll-free 1-888-527-8999, or email info@nomoredebts.org.

www.nomoredebts.org

Dial-A-Law Provides legal information in English, Chinese, and Punjabi, from the Canadian Bar Association, BC Branch.

www.cba.org/bc/public_media/dal; select “Credit, Debt and Consumer” for information about consumer and debt issues.

Lawyer Referral Offers advice and information from a lawyer for a fee of $25 plus taxes for the first 30 minutes. Call 604-687-3221 in Greater Vancouver or toll-free 1-800-663-1919 from anywhere else in the province.

www.cba.org/bc/initiatives/main/lawyer_referral.aspx

People's Law School View the online animations "You Owe Money" and "Someone Owes You Money".

www.publiclegaled.bc.ca; click on "Media" and then "Videos".

Mediate BC Mediate BC specializes in a wide variety of dispute resolution tools and processes.

www.mediatebc.com