It is not uncommon for tradespeople, professionals and
businesses alike to encounter customers who refuse or neglect to
pay their bills. Although a lawsuit is always an option in these
scenarios, many simply choose to write off the loss as bad debt
rather than throw good money after bad, especially when a debtor
has relative few assets and a lawsuit might result in a dry
judgment.
Fortunately for mechanics, however, the British Columbia
Repairer's Lien Act provides a method for securing
payment of unpaid bills without having to commence a lawsuit. The
Repairer's Lien Act gives a mechanic a lien on the
vehicle he or she has repaired for the total cost of the repairs,
and the mechanic is entitled to sell the vehicle to pay the
debtor's bill if the bill is still unpaid 90 days after it was
rendered.
