Your rights (BC)

Liens and sales: the law changed

BC's old Warehouse Lien Act was repealed and replaced by the Commercial Liens Act, in force June 30, 2025 (Commercial Liens Act (BC Laws)). Older web pages about "warehouse liens" may be out of date.

According to People's Law School, self-storage operators generally do not get a lien under the Commercial Liens Act, because they rent out space rather than provide storage services. That means what a facility can do when you fall behind, such as overlocking, denying access or selling contents, depends mostly on your signed rental agreement and general consumer law. Please confirm how this applies to you with Legal Aid BC or a lawyer. (People's Law School: Commercial liens)

Fees that often don't hold up

• Fees that aren't in your signed contract. A charge you never agreed to is hard for a company to justify.
• Unreasonably high late, lock-cut or "admin" fees that are far beyond the company's real cost.
• Surprise charges that weren't clearly disclosed before you signed, like a low advertised price with fees added at the end.
• Selling or disposing of your things without the notice your contract requires, or without giving you a fair chance to pay or collect them.
• Charges after you moved out when you gave notice the way your contract says.

Unfair and deceptive practices

BC's Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (BC Laws) prohibits deceptive acts or practices (such as misleading statements about price) and unconscionable acts or practices by businesses dealing with consumers. Consumer Protection BC is the agency that handles complaints under this law.

What you can do, step by step

1. Document everything. Keep your contract, receipts, emails and texts, and take photos of notices, your unit and the lock.
2. Ask for an itemized statement in writing. Email the company and ask for every charge, the date, and the contract clause it relies on.
3. Dispute in writing. Say which charges you dispute and why, and what you want (a refund, reversal, or access to your things). Keep a copy.
4. Complain to Consumer Protection BC if you think a practice was misleading or unfair. (Consumer Protection BC)
5. File with the Civil Resolution Tribunal. The CRT handles most small claims disputes up to $5,000 online. (Civil Resolution Tribunal: small claims)
6. Ask your card issuer about a chargeback if you paid by credit card for a charge you didn't authorize or that wasn't as promised. Time limits are set by your issuer, so call quickly.
7. Report to the Better Business Bureau. The BBB passes complaints to the business and records responses. (Better Business Bureau (BC), file a BBB complaint)

Sources

• People's Law School: Commercial liens
• Commercial Liens Act (BC Laws)
• Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (BC Laws)
• Consumer Protection BC
• Civil Resolution Tribunal: small claims
• Better Business Bureau (BC)