Over the years, Olsen on Your Side has done many stories with an organization called the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority, including stories on diet and fitness companies, travel agencies, and telemarketers.
It's been around for five years but the public still really doesn't know who they are. When we asked people on the streets of Vancouver -most shook their heads. Even the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority knew the name wasn't memorable, according to their vice-president Manjit Bains.
"What we heard from everybody was is our name was too long and very hard to say and remember," Bains said.
So now they are Consumer Protection BC and with the new name comes some new responsibilities.
"Regulating the home inspector industry and coming up in the fall we'll be regulating the pay day lending industry, so we'll begin to license them," she said.
Even though the old name was hard to remember Consumer Protection BC has been handling 15,000 inquires and complaints per year. It has the power to license, regulate, fine or even take businesses to court. But Bains says preventing problems in the first place is always best.
"Know who you are doing business with," she said. "Do the research. Check our website check the internet check the BBB website."
And when it comes to contracts Bains says you should never be in a rush to sign.
"Read the fine print in the contract. Don't sign the contract without reading it. Be wary of high pressure. Take your time to make the decision," she said.
Consumer Protection BC is now a name everyone can remember getting two thumbs up when we polled people on the streets of Vancouver.
"It's a lot easier to say than the first one," concluded one man on the street.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
