How to Respond to a CRT Dispute Notice in BC

You opened an envelope or email from the Civil Resolution Tribunal and found a Dispute Notice with your name on it. The clock is already running — you have 14 calendar days from the date you were served (30 days if you were served outside British Columbia) to file a Dispute Response. Missing that window lets the applicant apply for a default decision against you without ever hearing your side.

Here is how to respond, start to finish.

Verify the Dispute Notice Is Legitimate

Before you do anything else, confirm the documents are real. Log into the CRT portal at civilresolutionbc.ca using the file number and access code printed on the Dispute Notice package. If those credentials pull up a live file with your name and the correct claim details, the notice is authentic.

Do not click on links or scan QR codes from unverified attachments. If something looks wrong, call the CRT directly at 1-844-322-2292.

Understand Your Three Response Options

Every respondent picks one path — or a combination if the claim has multiple items:

Dispute the claim. You deny some or all of what the applicant is asking for. You will need to explain the factual grounds for your denial in the Dispute Response form. Keep it brief and factual — this is not the stage for your full evidence package.

Admit the claim. You agree you owe the money. If you cannot pay the full amount immediately, you can propose an instalment schedule within the response form. Filing a response even when admitting is critical — without one, the applicant gets a default order for lump-sum payment.

Counterclaim. If the applicant owes you money in relation to the same dispute, you can file a separate counterclaim after submitting your Dispute Response. Counterclaims carry their own filing fee.

File Your Dispute Response Online (Free)

The cheapest and fastest route:

1. Go to civilresolutionbc.ca and enter the file number and access code from your Dispute Notice package.
2. Create a CRT account or log into your existing one.
3. Fill out the Dispute Response form — confirm your legal name, provide a contact address, and select your response option (dispute, admit, or partial admit) for each item claimed.
4. If you are responding on behalf of a business, corporation, or strata council, you will need to designate a Contact Person with authority to bind the entity.
5. Submit. Online submission is free — the CRT charges $0 for electronic Dispute Responses.

The portal accepts submissions until 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the deadline day.

The Paper Alternative (Costs Extra)

If you cannot use the online portal, request a paper response package from the CRT. You can submit it by mail or email, but paper submissions carry a processing fee that the online route does not. Low-income individuals can apply for a fee waiver through the CRT's online form — businesses, corporations, and strata councils are not eligible for waivers.

What Happens After You File

Once your Dispute Response is submitted, the CRT moves your case through three stages:

1. Negotiation — you and the applicant exchange messages through the CRT portal to try to resolve the dispute directly.
2. Facilitation — a CRT case manager steps in to help both sides reach an agreement.
3. Adjudication — if no agreement is reached, a CRT member reviews written evidence from both parties and issues a binding decision. Oral hearings are rare at the CRT; most cases are decided on documents alone.

The whole process typically takes several months, but the pace depends on how quickly both parties respond at each stage.

Do Not Wait Until the Deadline

The 14-day window is strict. If the final day falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline extends to the next business day — but that is the only automatic extension you get. If you need more time, you can submit a Request for Extension through the CRT portal before the original deadline expires. You will need a compelling reason, such as a medical emergency or inaccessible records.

Filing your response does not mean you are admitting you did anything wrong. It means the CRT will hear your side before making a decision. That is the whole point.

If you want a single reference that walks through every stage — from reading the Dispute Notice to preparing your evidence for adjudication — the BC CRT Dispute Response Guide covers the full process with worksheets for deadline tracking, response strategy, and evidence organization.

See more British Columbia guides →