Help with Builders Liens & Unpaid Wages in Surrey
If you did the work and have not been paid, the law gives you options — but the deadlines are short. Surrey Speaks volunteers help tradespeople, subcontractors and workers in Surrey understand their options and prepare the paperwork, with no service fees.
What we can help with
- Builders liens for contractors, subcontractors and trades under BC’s Builders Lien Act
- Organising your contract, invoices and proof of work
- Unpaid wages complaints to the BC Employment Standards Branch
- WorkSafeBC claim forms
- Referral to a volunteer lawyer when you need legal advice
Unpaid wages: a complaint to the Employment Standards Branch must usually be made within 6 months of your last day of work.
If you are close to a deadline, contact us today.
How it works
- Ask for helpRequest help using our short online form, or message us on WhatsApp.
- A volunteer contacts youA volunteer contacts you, usually within a few days, and tells you exactly which documents to bring.
- We help you applyWe help you complete and check your application. You submit it and pay any official fees directly.
What to have ready
- Your contract, quote, or messages agreeing to the work
- Invoices, and records of any payments you received
- The property address, or your employer’s details
- Photos, timesheets or pay stubs
Good to know
- There are no service fees for our help. Any official filing fees are paid by you directly to the official office.
- Legal advice is given only by volunteer lawyers. Other volunteers help with forms and paperwork.
- We cannot guarantee that you will be paid, but acting before the deadline keeps your options open.
Common questions
Can I file a builders lien without a lawyer?
Many people file their own claim of lien. A volunteer can help with the forms, and a volunteer lawyer can advise you if your case is complex.
Can temporary foreign workers make an unpaid wages complaint?
Yes. BC employment standards protect most workers in BC, including temporary foreign workers.
Do you charge anything?
No. There are no service fees for our help.
Ready to get started?
Tell us what you need and a volunteer will contact you.
Surrey Speaks is a volunteer-run community initiative, not a government office. We help you fill in forms correctly; decisions are made only by the government office handling your application. Please do not send ID documents through this website. Looking for other help? See all our services.