Please note that there may be some disruptions to our website on February 4, 2012. .  We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your patience.

Consumer Protection BC

{January 6, 2012} VICTORIA Bc - We are pleased to present Consumer Protection BC’s Business Plan covering the period from 2012 to 2014. Like our preceding three year Business Plans, this plan results from an active process involving the Board, the Leadership Team and all staff at Consumer Protection BC.

{November 29, 2011} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC is pleased to announce the Minister’s appointment of Deborah Kim Lovett, Q.C., to the Board of Directors. By legislation, the Consumer Protection BC Board may consist of up to nine directors including one director who may be appointed by the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

{November 21, 2011} It’s time to start planning your Black Friday, that special day after the US Thanksgiving when retailers gear up to offer their best. Our past experience tells us that all deals are not created equal and the fine print is often the most important thing. Before you head out the door or buy online for a block buster, the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Protection BC offer the following tip sheet to help you save time and money and make smart consumer decisions.

{November 10, 2011} Consumer Protection BC currently has two job postings available. We are looking to fill the position of Inquiry Officer and Director, Industry Relations.  To view the job postings, please visit the Careers page of our website.

For more information about our organization, our corporate 2010 Annual Report is also available.

Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit corporation that was created to strengthen consumer protection in BC and enforce consumer protection laws. We balance the interests of all parties to promote a marketplace that is fair for both BC consumers and BC businesses. We license and inspect specific industries, respond to inquiries through our Inquiry Centre, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws, and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities under the law.  For more information about our organization, please visit our corporate website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.

Follow Consumer Protection BC on Twitter @ConsumerProBC, like us on Facebook and read our blog for valuable consumer tips and resources.

{October 14, 2011} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC has implemented a new policy to publically share information about our licensing and enforcement actions.

{September 15, 2011}  We are experiencing difficulties with some functions of our website including search features such as find a licensee and the film classification search.  We are working as quickly as possible to resolve these issues.  We apologize for an inconvenience this may be causing.

{July 5, 2011} VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC is informing our licensed industries of a new policy on the use of financial sanctions, referred to as administrative penalties, for licensed businesses that fail an inspection.

{May 27, 2011} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC has released its 2010 Annual Report and 2010 audited financial statements.

{May 18, 2011} Consumer Protection BC is warning consumers that it has prohibited Superior Systems of Kelowna and Michael Alvin Friedel from engaging in direct sales for a period of five years for using illegal vacuum sales tactics.  A Director’s Compliance Order has also been issued to Superior Systems which requires the company to bring their sales contracts into compliance with the requirements under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act and repay a $2,080 consumer deposit.

Action Taken Against ‘Factory Save Exteriors’ around Door to Door Sales Tactics

{April 12, 2011} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC has ordered Factory Save Exteriors (including Factory Save Windows and Factory Save Management) to bring their sales contracts into compliance with the requirements under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act and repay a $3,000 deposit paid by a BC consumer.

What would you do?  Throughout the month of March we have been sharing our “What Would You Do?” columns to raise consumer awareness during Fraud Prevention Month. Each of our consumer case studies begin with a specific consumer situation, continues with how we might handle such a situation and ends with tips for consumers.

{January 14, 2011} VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC is participating in the launch of the Better Business Bureau's Top Ten Scams brochure today.

{December 7, 2010} VICTORIA BC – Consumer Protection BC is advising consumers that the Direct Prohibition Order against Lloyd Schell Jr. and David Schell will be expiring on Friday December 9, 2010.

{October 8, 2010} VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC is currently looking for a Manager, Accounting Services. The Manager, Accounting Services is the key financial position and functions under the general direction of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with considerable freedom to make recommendations and/or decisions on the issues related to financial planning, reporting and analysis and is essential in the co-ordination of the annual audit of the Consumer Protection BC.

Please visit the CAREERS page on our website for more information.

We want to hear about the issues of BC consumers.  Please help us by taking 10 minutes to fill out our consumer survey.

{September 24, 2010} VICTORIA, BC – After conducting industry consultations, Consumer Protection BC is adjusting the licence fees for several of our licensed industries and occupations.   The new fees will come into effect on January 1, 2011.

{September 1, 2010} VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC is announcing the appointment of Scott McBride as its new president and Chief Executive Officer.  Succeeding Terry Barnett who will be retiring at the end of August, Mr. McBride will begin his new position on September 7, 2010.

{August 23, 2010}  VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection  BC wants to hear about the issues of BC consumers.  We have just posted a consumer survey on our website that gives members of the public the opportunity to share their experiences with us.

{August 19, 2010} - VICTORIA/VANCOUVER, BC - It’s that time again!  Students and their parents are preparing for the beginning of a new school year.  With the high volume of sales made during this time of year and an increasing number of youth making their own purchases, Consumer Protection BC and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) remind “back-to-schoolers” that it pays to be a smart consumer.

{August 16, 2010.} We invite you to listen our interview on CFAX 1070 AM with Dave Dickson about various consumer issues.

{August 11, 2010} VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC has extended our deadline for industry members and consumers who are intrested in serving on our industry advisory groups. The new deadline for submissions is August 18, 2010.

{July 15, 2010} We invite you to watch our interview on CTV's Olsen On Your Side segment about door to door sales.

{July 12, 2010} VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC is seeking industry members and consumers to serve on our industry advisory groups.

{June 25, 2010} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC is pleased to release its 2009 Annual Report and financial statements.

{April 19, 2010} VICTORIA, BC - Further to the information update released on December 8, 2009 regarding changes to our licensing and criminal record check policy, Consumer Protection BC is pleased to announce it has re-obtained the ability to perform criminal record checks internally for new and renewing licensing applicants.

{December 8, 2009} VICTORIA, BC - Due to changes from our service provider, effective immediately Consumer Protection BC will no longer be able to perform criminal record checks internally for new licensing applicants.  Instead, applicants (except for telephone collectors and general release film and video providers) will be required to obtain and submit a criminal record check performed by their local police agency (RCMP, regional or municipal departments).