Tuesday February 10, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
New sales contract protections for consumers in BC will start August 1, 2026.
People in British Columbia will benefit from clearer contracts, better cancellation rights and new protections from high-pressure sales tactics with amendments to the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, says the BC Attorney General’s office.
- New protections ensure consumers can more easily understand and exercise their contract rights;
- Amendments will come into effect August 1, 2026, to ensure businesses have time to implement changes;
- New rules introduced against high-pressure, direct sales of costly household products.
Amendments to the act to help people deal with unclear contract terms and predatory sales practices on everyday items and services received royal assent on March 31, 2025.
Contract fairness:
Measures that promote contract fairness are in effect, such as restricting businesses’ ability to include terms that require costly private arbitration, limit participation in class actions and prevent consumers’ ability to post reviews online.
After extensive consultation with industry and consumer groups, the remaining amendments will come into effect August 1, 2026. That will give businesses enough time to prepare for and implement the changes, the Province says.
Strengthening consumer rights:
The amendments are intended to ensure that consumers can more easily understand what they are agreeing to and make it easier to use their rights. They include:
- ensuring all contracts, including online purchases, follow the same rules so people receive more consistent information, including business policies around refunds, returns/exchanges and cancellation;
- introducing rules against automatic renewal of contracts without advance notification, approval from the consumer, or ability to cancel, and providing consumers with protections against one-sided terms allowing businesses to unilaterally amend a contract;
- banning high-pressure direct-sales tactics for certain high-cost household products and services, such as air conditioners and furnaces;
- banning offering credit as part of a direct sale, reducing the risk of predatory sales tactics often used at the door.
Vulnerable consumers:
With the new rules, the most vulnerable consumers will be more aware of their rights and protected against harmful practices, including sales tactics.
The government says that vulnerable consumers include seniors, newcomers and people with lower incomes or disabilities.
Automatic renewals:
In addition, people will have more control over automatic renewals of services, such as gym memberships or streaming subscriptions.
Consumer Protection BC:
The Province is working with Consumer Protection BC and businesses to ensure a smooth transition in implementing these changes.
These amendments reinforce government’s commitment to strengthening consumer rights.
Bills:
- Consumer protection amendments to the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act through Bill 4 received royal assent on March 31, 2025.
- Government introduced stronger tools to protect against credit-related fraud as part of Phase 2 of consumer protection amendments in October 2025, through Bill 28.
Government links:
- Amendments to the act introduced in 2025
- Consumer protections for people in British Columbia
- Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act
- Tools against credit fraud
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NEWS SECTIONS: CUSTOMER SERVICE