VICTORIA – The lure of buying on credit can be tempting and sometimes saving to buy big-ticket items is difficult. Before deciding to buy now and pay later, the Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection BC urge consumers to consider the true cost of buying an item on credit.

{Dec. 13, 2012} VICTORIA, BC – While a new poll from Consumer Protection BC shows that 95 per cent of consumers are purchasing gifts this holiday season, 64 per cent say they’re planning on spending less than in 2011.

As part of “Be Money Smart This Holiday Season,” a wintertime campaign focused on financial literacy, Consumer Protection BC polled some 1,150 consumers over a six-day period in late November about their holiday spending habits.

{Nov. 16, 2012} VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC has just launched a seasonal campaign aimed at sharing money-saving tips with consumers across the province, coinciding with November’s Financial Literacy Month and the upcoming holiday season.

{Nov. 1, 2012} VICTORIA, BC – With British Columbia having the highest consumer debt of any province or territory in Canada, at about $38,000 per household, Consumer Protection BC takes educating consumers about debt very seriously and would like to remind BC residents of their debt collection rights.

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

{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.

{June 9, 2011} VICTORIA,  BC – Consumer Protection BC refunded a total of $8,900 to four consumers who did not have their money forwarded to their creditors by RAFP Canada Credit Services Inc. (RAFP), operating as Canada Debt Assistance, as required by the Business Practices and Consumer protection Act. The company was licensed with Consumer Protection BC until 2008 when the business closed.

{May 17, 2011}  A mail delivery service disruption may be possible due to a potential Canada Post strike on or after May 25, 2011.   Consumer Protection BC has been approached by various stakeholders from the debt collection industry for guidance due to this potential event.

{April 19, 2011} The minutes of the Debt Collection Industry Advisory Group meeting are now posted on our website. The meeting was held on April 12, 2011.  You can view all of the meeting minutes by clicking here. A list of the Debt Collection Industry Advisory Group members are also available.

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.

{February 2, 2011}  VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC has been getting calls recently from consumers who have questions around debt pooling so we thought we would take this opportunity to share some information about this industry with you.

{December 22, 2010} VICTORIA BC – Consumer Protection BC is very pleased to announce the launch of www.debtrightsbc.ca, our new debt industry portal. This new portal, which co-exists with our larger Consumer Protection BC website, provides timely and relevant information for both consumers and licensed businesses in BC. You can now find all of our debt collection related information in one location!

{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.

{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.

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