BC Demand Letter Template

What a BC demand letter is for

Before you take someone to the Civil Resolution Tribunal or small claims court in British Columbia, a clear written demand is usually the fastest way to get paid. Many debts are settled once the other party sees the amount laid out, the documents behind it, and a firm date after which a claim will be filed. If it does not work, the letter becomes part of your evidence: it shows you explained the claim and gave a fair chance to pay.

This template is built for British Columbia. The letter sets out what happened in date order, itemizes the amount owing with the basis for each part, lists the enclosed documents, sets a specific payment deadline and method, invites a response or payment plan, and states where you will file and that you will claim interest under the Court Order Interest Act. A second page shows where to file by amount, with notes on tenancy and strata disputes, an eight-point checklist to run before sending, and a record for delivery and responses.

When to use it

Use it for money disputes in BC: unpaid invoices for goods or services, loans that have not been repaid, deposits that were not returned, damage to your property or vehicle, defective work you paid for, and payments due under a contract. Businesses and individuals can both use it.

Residential tenancy disputes, including security deposits, belong at the Residential Tenancy Branch, which has its own forms. For disputes over $35,000, or where the other side has a lawyer, consider getting legal advice before sending a demand.

What's inside

The full list of sections and fields in this template, in the order they appear.

1. Letter

   • Sender
   • Delivery method
   • Recipient
   • Subject line with amount
   • What happened in date order
   • Itemized amount owing
   • Basis for the claim
   • Enclosures

2. Payment and next steps

   • Deadline
   • Payment method
   • Invitation to discuss
   • Intended filing
   • Court Order Interest Act interest

3. Guide and records

   • Where to file by amount
   • Tenancy and other tribunals
   • Eight-point checklist
   • Delivery and response record

Preview pages

How to complete the letter

1. Identify the other party correctly. Use their full legal name; check BC Registry for a company's exact name.
2. Tell the story in date order. Describe the agreement, what you did and what they failed to do.
3. Itemize the amount. Show each part of the claim and the total.
4. State the basis. Point to the agreement, invoice, law or event the claim rests on.
5. List the enclosures. Attach copies, never originals, of your key documents.
6. Set a specific deadline. Usually 10 to 14 days, with how to pay.
7. Say where you will file. Choose the tribunal or court that matches the amount.
8. Check the limitation period. Make sure you can still file within two years of discovery.
9. Send it with proof. Use a method that proves delivery, keep a copy and complete the record.

Example: a completed letter excerpt

A fictional Kelowna cabinet installer, Okanagan Custom Cabinets Ltd., writes to a homeowner about an unpaid balance:

Re: Demand for payment of $3,200 for invoice no. 1047, kitchen cabinet installation at 412 Elm Street, Kelowna. What happened: quote signed February 2, 2026, for $4,200; installation completed and accepted March 14; $1,000 deposit paid; balance invoiced March 15 with payment due in 14 days; reminders sent April 1 and April 20. Amount owing: balance $3,200.00; interest at 1.5 per cent per month as stated in the quote (18 per cent a year), $96.00; total $3,296.00. Deadline: May 8, 2026, by e-transfer. Next step: a claim with the Civil Resolution Tribunal, as the amount is under $5,000.

The homeowner calls two days later and agrees to pay in two instalments, which the installer confirms in writing.

BC rules to know

These are the British Columbia rules this letter is built around.

• Civil Resolution Tribunal. Small claims up to $5,000, plus strata disputes and certain motor vehicle injury claims.
• Provincial Court small claims. Claims over $5,000 up to $35,000, started with a Notice of Claim.
• Supreme Court. Claims over $35,000.
• Limitation Act. Most claims must be started within two years after the claim is discovered.
• Court Order Interest Act. Lets the tribunal or court award interest on money owed where there is no agreed rate.
• Residential Tenancy Branch. Handles disputes between residential landlords and tenants, including deposits.

Mistakes that weaken a claim

The common problems are naming the wrong person or company, claiming amounts with no documents behind them, angry or threatening language, vague deadlines, threatening to file somewhere that does not handle the dispute, sending the letter with no proof of delivery, and waiting so long that the limitation period runs out. Following the checklist and keeping the delivery record avoids each of them.