BC Bill 4 – Consumer Protection Act – Side-by-Side Direct Sales Contract (Tracked Changes Style)
British Columbia just passed BILL 4 – 2025 BUSINESS PRACTICES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION AMENDMENT ACT, 2025, designed to provide better consumer protection against companies that use dark patterns and sneaky tricks to hold a consumer to a contract that is not in their best interest. Many direct sellers have “trapped” consumers into completing contracts that they cannot get out of. Those days are over. A contract written that way, is now illegal.
We asked ChatGPT using this prompt:
” You are a technical writer who can translate legal text into a plain language article. Using this new law – https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/overview/43rd-parliament/1st-session/bills/3rd_read/gov04-3.htm – write an in-depth article of what changes direct sellers must make to their processes and their legal contracts ”
We will publish the response but we thought this simple comparison of a “before and after” contract from the direct seller might best illustrate where lawmakers are headed. And make no mistake – the other provinces are paying attention.
If you would like a copy of our “Before and After Document”, please email us at info@newportthomson.com and we will send it via return email. We will only use your email address to send you this PDF. You will not automatically be added to our email promotion list (we hardly maintain a regular cadence of emails to a very small interested group of individuals.)
Next Steps for You
1. Use this side-by-side table as a redline guide for your existing templates.
2. Ask your lawyer to check the wording of cancellation rights (must match the prescribed statutory form when regulations publish).
3. Update your credit agreement templates so they automatically cancel if the main contract is cancelled.
4. Ensure sales staff training aligns with the “After” version.
Enforcement begins now. More of these kinds of Acts expected from other Provinces.
