How to Organize a CRT Small Claim Without a Paralegal in BC

If you are owed up to $5,000 in British Columbia and do not want to spend $300 to $1,200 on a paralegal, you can file and manage a CRT small claim yourself. The Civil Resolution Tribunal is designed for self-representation — lawyers and paid agents need tribunal approval to appear, and most applicants handle their own claims. The challenge is not the portal. It is organizing six distinct procedural tasks in the right order, with the right deadlines, before you commit anything online.

Here is the sequence, and what each task requires.

Confirm you are in the right forum

Before you pay the filing fee, verify three things:

1. Claim amount: The CRT handles small claims up to $5,000 (excluding interest and tribunal fees). Claims from $5,001 to $35,000 go to the Small Claims division of the BC Provincial Court.
2. Subject matter: The CRT covers debt and damages, contract disputes, and — since the March 31, 2025 expansion under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (BPCPA) — consumer protection claims against suppliers, debt collectors, credit reporting agencies, and payday lenders. Residential tenancy disputes between landlords and tenants under the Residential Tenancy Act go to the Residential Tenancy Branch, not the CRT.
3. Roommate exception: If you share a kitchen or bathroom with the property owner, or you are a subtenant without a direct lease, the RTA does not apply. Your deposit or damage claim goes to the CRT.

Filing in the wrong forum wastes your filing fee and months of time. A five-question yes/no checklist — forum, amount, subject matter, limitation period, respondent identity — catches the most common routing errors.

Check the limitation period

British Columbia's Limitation Act gives you two years from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) the claim. There is a 15-year ultimate limit regardless of discovery. If you are close to the two-year mark, act promptly: the limitation period pauses when you submit the completed CRT Dispute Application and pay the application fee, or submit a completed Fee Waiver Request. A demand letter or use of the Solution Explorer does not pause the clock.

Calculate your deadline from the specific event: the date the contractor abandoned the job, the date the invoice went unpaid past its terms, the date the deposit should have been returned. If the math is unclear, a fill-in limitation period checker that walks through your dates is more reliable than estimating in your head.

Send a demand letter

The CRT encourages applicants to try to resolve the dispute before filing. A demand letter is not legally required to file, but the Solution Explorer asks whether you have attempted resolution, and a documented demand strengthens your position.

Your demand letter should include:

• The exact amount you are claiming, broken down by principal, any credits or partial payments, interest (if applicable), and expenses
• A deadline for payment (10 to 14 calendar days is typical)
• A statement that you will file a CRT claim if the amount is not paid

Send it by a method you can prove — registered mail with tracking, email with a read receipt, or hand delivery with a witness. Keep the tracking number, delivery confirmation, or screenshot.

Verify the respondent's legal name

Naming the wrong respondent can make a CRT decision unenforceable in court. If you are claiming against a business, identify the legal party rather than using only the trade name on the storefront or invoice.

For sole proprietorships and general partnerships registered in BC, search through BC Registries and Online Services (bcregistry.gov.bc.ca) to identify the individual owner(s); name the owner(s) personally, for example, "Jane Doe d.b.a. Apex Home Services." For a corporation, use its full registered corporate name and registered office address. If the respondent is an individual, confirm their full legal name and service address.

An incorrectly named respondent can leave you with a CRT decision that is unenforceable in court, so verify the legal name before filing.

Track service of the Dispute Notice

When you file, choose applicant service or CRT service by regular mail. If you choose applicant service, serve every respondent within 90 calendar days after the CRT issues the Dispute Notice. If the CRT serves by regular mail, the package is deemed served 20 calendar days after issuance. For each respondent you serve, submit a Proof of Service through the portal within 10 calendar days after completing service.

For applicant service, approved methods depend on the respondent type; they include personal delivery, registered mail, or courier requiring a signature. For a corporation, for example, registered mail or courier must go to its registered office. Each method has its own proof requirements. A tracking log — recording the method, date, tracking number, and delivery confirmation for each respondent — prevents the situation where you served everyone but cannot prove it when the 10-day deadline arrives.

Missing the 90-day applicant-service window may result in dismissal. If you miss the 10-day Proof of Service deadline, the CRT cannot confirm service and the claim may stall.

Organize your evidence

The CRT's adjudication stage requires written submissions and supporting evidence uploaded through the portal. Adjudicators review what you submit — they do not investigate on your behalf.

Organize your evidence chronologically:

• Contracts, invoices, and written agreements
• Payment records (bank transfers, receipts, cancelled cheques)
• Communications (texts, emails, written correspondence) in date order
• Photographs (damage, defective work, the condition of goods) with dates
• Any expert assessments or repair quotes

An exhibit index — a numbered list matching each document to a date, description, and what it proves — makes your submission readable. Uploading an unsorted collection of screenshots and photos is the fastest way to weaken an otherwise strong claim.

Put it all together before you open the portal

The mistake most first-time claimants make is starting inside the CRT portal and trying to figure out the preparation steps along the way. The portal is a filing tool, not a planning tool. It does not help you verify the respondent, calculate your demand, or organize your evidence.

The BC CRT Small Claim Step-by-Step Guide puts every task in this article into a single printable workflow with fillable PDFs — Forum Decision Checklist, Limitation Period Checker, Demand Letter Calculation Sheet, Respondent Verification Protocol, Service Tracking Log, Evidence Index Worksheet, and Deadline Calendar. It does not file your claim or provide legal advice. It organizes the work you need to do before and after the portal so nothing falls through the cracks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a CRT claim without sending a demand letter first?

Technically yes — a demand letter is not a statutory prerequisite. The Solution Explorer asks whether you have tried to resolve the dispute, and a documented demand supports your account of prior attempts if the respondent claims they were never given a chance to pay.

What if I cannot find the respondent's address?

You need a valid service address to serve the Dispute Notice. If personal service or registered mail proves impossible, submit a Request for Directions on Service through your CRT account. The tribunal may order substituted service, such as email, social media messaging, or service on a co-worker or adult household member.

How long does the whole CRT process take?

The timeline varies. If the respondent files a Dispute Response, the claim proceeds through online negotiation and case-manager facilitation; if those stages do not resolve it, a Tribunal Member decides the case. If the respondent does not respond within 14 calendar days in BC or 30 calendar days outside BC, you can request a Default Decision; it is not automatic.

What happens if I miss the 90-day service deadline?

Your claim may be dismissed. If you chose applicant service and cannot complete it within 90 days, contact the CRT promptly about your options. Track the deadline from the date the Dispute Notice is issued — not from the date you filed the application.

Do I need to appear in person?

No. CRT proceedings are handled online and do not require an in-person appearance. Adjudication is usually asynchronous and written through the portal, though a Tribunal Member may order an exceptional oral hearing by telephone or videoconference. This is one of the key differences between the CRT and the Provincial Court, which may require in-person attendance.

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