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Essentials of Consumer Law helps you learn how to protect yourself when you buy something or hire someone to perform a service. This publication explains your rights for common consumer purchases and contracts, as well as the steps you can take when something goes wrong. Reviewed March 2017.

Explains your rights if you’re a young person facing a criminal trial. Learn about what to expect if you appear in court on a criminal charge, from alternatives to trial, what happens if there is a trial, to possible sentences if a judge finds you guilty. It includes who can help finding lawyer, and who can help if you’re in police custody.

Explains the rights a young person has in dealing with the police or if they’re charged with a crime. Topics include what you should know about the legal framework, if the police stop and question you, if you’re arrested, and if you’re charged but not arrested. It includes how to find a lawyer, and help you can get if you’re in police custody.

Explain your options for getting out of debt, who can help, scams, and licensed insolvency trustees who can help with formal legal processes. Your options include to budget out of debt, to negotiate with your creditors, to consolidate your debt, to negotiate a debt settlement, to make a consumer proposal, and bankruptcy.

When someone leaves goods at a storage facility, the business has a legal claim on the goods. This is called a “warehouse lien.” It can help the business recover their fees.

Explains that small claims court charges filing fees, which can be a barrier for many people. Find out how you can ask to have the fees waived, so you don’t have to pay them. It explains how the court decides whether or not to waive your fees, and the steps you need to take.

The police give out a “violation ticket” for less serious driving offences. Learn the options available if you get a traffic ticket, and the steps involved in disputing the ticket.

Explains the driver penalty points you’ll typically get if you’re ticketed for a driving offence in BC. Learn about how ICBC calculates driver penalty point premiums, how long they stay on your driving record, what if you can’t (or don’t) pay the premium, what if you’re not allowed to drive, and the points leading to a driving prohibition.

Learn about what claims you can bring in small claims court, and what the time limit is. It details the steps in the process (prepare the notice of claim, file the notice of claim on court, serve the notice on the defendant, wait for a reply, and attend the settlement conference).

It is criminal harassment for someone to repeatedly follow or contact you or engage in threatening behaviour to make you afraid. This can also include cyberbullying.