If you have a concern about the fees charged by your CPA, our first and best advice is to have a full and frank discussion with your CPA. Should such discussions not yield a satisfactory result, CPABC offers a free fee dispute resolution service.
Because CPABC’s governing legislation, bylaws, and code of professional conduct do not give the organization the power to intervene in fee disputes, both the client and the CPA must agree to use the Fee Resolution Service.
The service is free and requires both parties to enter into a written fee resolution agreement, and collection actions brought to a halt. The most significant terms of this agreement are:
The unpaid balance of the fees in dispute, including any taxes and interest, must be placed in trust with CPABC’s solicitors;
Both parties agree that the determination of the fee resolution service is final and binding, with no appeal; and
Reasons for the determination will not be provided to either the client or the CPA involved.
CPABC’s Fee Resolution Committee performs the service with administrative support from the Advisory Services Department. This Committee includes a non-CPA public representative who reviews all determinations to make sure the public interest is served.
We accept files where the outstanding (unpaid) fees are in excess of $3,000 before taxes and interest. We do not accept files where the fees have already been paid by the client.
For further information or to access our Fee Resolution Service, email professionaladvisory@bccpa.ca.