If the CRT accepts your claim application, we will issue a Dispute Notice package. This package includes the Dispute Notice and instructions for responding to the claim.
The Dispute Notice is a legal document and must be delivered (“served”) to each respondent in the claim. Here’s what a CRT Dispute Notice looks like.
If you’re the primary applicant, the CRT will ask if you want to serve the Dispute Notice package or if you want the CRT to serve it for you. In some cases, the CRT will tell you that you must serve the respondents yourself.
- If you chose to have the CRT serve the Dispute Notice package for you, there’s nothing you need to do. The CRT will contact you about the next steps for your claim.
- If you’re serving the Dispute Notice package yourself, read on.
What’s the deadline for serving the Dispute Notice package?
You have 90 days to serve the Dispute Notice package to all respondents and submit your Proof of Service form. This starts on the day the CRT issued the Dispute Notice. The “Issued Date” is shown on the first page of the Dispute Notice.
What happens if I don’t serve the Dispute Notice package?
If you don’t serve all the respondents in your claim, or submit your Proof of Service, within 90 days then the CRT can refuse to continue your claim.
How do I serve the Dispute Notice package?
Follow the instructions below according to who the respondent is.
You must submit a Proof of Service form for each respondent you served. This is required to continue your claim. It proves to the CRT that you served the Dispute Notice properly.
Follow the instructions in the email we sent you with the Dispute Notice package.
Once you serve the Dispute Notice package on each respondent and submit your Proof of Service form, the respondents will have an opportunity to respond to the claim. They have 14 calendar days to respond, from the day they received the Dispute Notice package (30 days if they received it outside BC).
Once they respond, the claim usually moves to the negotiation stage. We'll contact you with next steps.
If they don't respond to the claim by the deadline, you may be able to ask for a default decision. We'll contact you with next steps.
Ways to serve the Dispute Notice package
Choose what type of respondent you’re serving. (If you’re not sure, check the Dispute Notice or contact us.) Only these service methods are acceptable under the CRT Rules.
The respondent is…
- Send the package by registered mail (not XpressPost) or courier. A signature on delivery is required. Keep your tracking number, you must enter it in your Proof of Service form.
- Or you can hand the package directly to a person. You can’t leave it under a door, in a mailbox, or on a desk. Keep a record of the day and time you delivered it, the location, and the name of the person you handed it to.
- Or you can send the package by email. The respondent must reply to the email, contact the CRT about the claim, or confirm receipt of the Dispute Notice in some other way. If they don’t, you must serve the Dispute Notice package by one of the other methods above.
After you serve the Dispute Notice package, submit your Proof of Service form. Follow the instructions in the email we sent you with the Dispute Notice package.
You have 90 days to serve the package and submit the form, starting on the day the CRT issued the Dispute Notice.
- Send the package by registered mail (not XpressPost) or courier to the company’s official address filed with the BC Corporate Registry. This might be a head office, a lawyer’s office, or another address. Learn how to find a registered office address. A signature on delivery is required. Keep your tracking number, you must enter it in your Proof of Service form.
- Or you can deliver it in person to the company’s official address.
- Or you can hand the package directly to a receptionist or someone who appears to manage or control the company, at the company’s official address or the place of business. You can’t leave it under a door, in a mailbox, or on a desk. Keep a record of the day and time you delivered it, the location, and the name of the person you handed it to.
After you serve the Dispute Notice package, submit your Proof of Service form. Follow the instructions in the email we sent you with the Dispute Notice package.
You have 90 days to serve the package and submit the form, starting on the day the CRT issued the Dispute Notice.
- Send the package by registered mail or courier to one of the partners. A signature on delivery is required.
- Or you can hand the package directly to someone at the place of business. This must be a receptionist or a partner, director, officer, liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy or receiver manager of the business. You can’t leave it under a door, in a mailbox, or on a desk. Keep a record of the day and time you delivered it, the location, and the name of the person you handed it to.
After you serve the Dispute Notice package, submit your Proof of Service form. Follow the instructions in the email we sent you with the Dispute Notice package.
You have 90 days to serve the package and submit the form, starting on the day the CRT issued the Dispute Notice.
- Send the package by registered mail (not XpressPost) or courier to the strata corporation’s official address filed with the BC Land Title Office, or to a council member. A signature on delivery is required. Keep your tracking number, you must enter it in your Proof of Service form.
- Or you can deliver it in person to the strata corporation’s official address filed with the BC Land Title Office.
- Or you can hand the package directly to a strata council member. You can’t leave it under a door, in a mailbox, or on a desk. Keep a record of the day and time you delivered it, the location, and the name of the person you handed it to.
- If you sent the package by registered mail or courier to the strata corporation’s official address filed with the BC Land Title Office, you must also either hand a copy of the package directly to a strata council member or strata manager, or send a copy to one of them by regular mail.
- If you’re serving a section of a strata corporation, you can send the package by registered mail (not XpressPost) or courier to an executive member of the section. A signature on delivery is required. Keep your tracking number, you must enter it in your Proof of Service form. Or you can deliver it in person to an executive member of the section.
- Send the package by registered mail (not XpressPost) or courier to the society or association’s official address filed with the BC Corporate Registry. Learn how to find a registered office address. A signature on delivery is required. Keep your tracking number, you must enter it in your Proof of Service form.
- Or you can deliver it in person to the society or association’s official address.
- Or you can hand the package directly to someone at the society or association’s place of business. This must be a director, officer, receiver manager, or liquidator. You can’t leave it under a door, in a mailbox, or on a desk. Keep a record of the day and time you delivered it, the location, and the name of the person you handed it to.
After you serve the Dispute Notice package, submit your Proof of Service form. Follow the instructions in the email we sent you with the Dispute Notice package.
You have 90 days to serve the package and submit the form, starting on the day the CRT issued the Dispute Notice.
- If your claim is about a vehicle accident, the CRT will email the Dispute Notice package to ICBC.
- If your claim is against respondents insured by ICBC, then ICBC will usually accept service of the Dispute Notice package on their behalf.
- Otherwise, ICBC has 7 days to tell the CRT that it won’t accept service. If ICBC doesn’t accept service, we will contact you with next steps. You’ll have to serve the respondents yourself, and submit a Proof of Service.
- If your claim is against an insurance company other than ICBC, follow the service instructions above for a corporation (company).
- Send the package by registered mail (not XpressPost) or courier to a clerk, deputy clerk, or similar official in the municipality. A signature on delivery is required. Keep your tracking number, you must enter it in your Proof of Service form.
- Or you can hand the package directly to someone at the place of business. This must be a clerk, deputy clerk, or similar official. You can’t leave it under a door, in a mailbox, or on a desk. Keep a record of the day and time you delivered it, the location, and the name of the person you handed it to.
After you serve the Dispute Notice package, submit your Proof of Service form. Follow the instructions in the email we sent you with the Dispute Notice package.
You have 90 days to serve the package and submit the form, starting on the day the CRT issued the Dispute Notice.
- You must serve both the minor and their parent or guardian.
- Send the package by registered mail (not XpressPost) or courier to the minor and their parent or guardian, unless the CRT gives you other instructions. A signature on delivery is required. Keep your tracking number, you must enter it in your Proof of Service form.
- Or you can hand the package directly to the minor and their parent or guardian. You can’t leave it under a door, in a mailbox, or on a desk. Keep a record of the day and time you delivered it, the location, and the name of the person you handed it to.
After you serve the Dispute Notice package, submit your Proof of Service form. Follow the instructions in the email we sent you with the Dispute Notice package.
You have 90 days to serve the package and submit the form, starting on the day the CRT issued the Dispute Notice.
- Send the package by registered mail (not XpressPost) or courier to the respondent, or the person they normally live with. A signature on delivery is required. Keep your tracking number, you must enter it in your Proof of Service form.
- You must also send the package the same way to their committee of estate, representative appointed under a representation agreement, or attorney appointed in an enduring power of attorney.
After you serve the Dispute Notice package, submit your Proof of Service form. Follow the instructions in the email we sent you with the Dispute Notice package.
You have 90 days to serve the package and submit the form, starting on the day the CRT issued the Dispute Notice.
If you need to serve the Dispute Notice package to a type of respondent not listed above, contact us for instructions.