Where to Get Help for Consumer Law Essentials

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Here are options for further information and assistance with consumer problems.

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)
Phone toll-free: 1-877-762-6664

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

Phone: 604-682-2711
Phone toll-free: 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
Phone 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
Phone from overseas: 1-705-495-8501
Fax: 1-888-654-9426
Mail: Box 686 North Bay, Ontario P1B 8J8
E-mail: info@antifraudcentre.ca

Canadian Home Builders Association of BC Helps consumers plan their renovation and explains what to do when there are problems. Website: www.gvhba.org

Phone toll-free: 1-800-933-6777

Clicklaw An Internet portal for public legal information and education in British Columbia. Website: www.clicklaw.bc.ca
ConsumerInformation.ca 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
Phone toll-free: 1-800-348-5358
Phone 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
Phone 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
Email: info@nomoredebts.org

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
Phone toll-free: 1-800-565-5297

Lawyer Referral Offers advice and information from a lawyer for a fee of $25 plus taxes for the first 30 minutes. Website: www.cba.org/bc/initiatives/main/lawyer_referral.aspx

Phone: 604-687-3221 (Greater Vancouver)
Phone toll-free: 1-800-663-1919 from anywhere else in the province.

People's Law School View the online animations "You Owe Money" and "Someone Owes You Money". Website: 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. Website: www.mediatebc.com