Huge demand for information about illegal signs and questionable business practices
Published02 Jun 1995
After only four days the Commerce Commission is having to print more copies of its booklet which lists signs that break the law and business practices that risk breaking the law.
The Commission's Fair Trading Manager, Keith Manch, said the demand from businesses and consumers has been far greater than expected and almost 5,000 copies of Refunds, Returns, Guarantees and Warranties have been requested since it was launched last weekend.
Mr Manch said the booklet explains the links between the Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Guarantees Act and includes lists which clearly state businesses' and customers' rights, and why and when signs and business practices break the law.
An issue of concern has been "No refunds" signs. These signs are illegal because they say customers can never get a refund on goods they have bought. This clearly misrepresents customers' rights. If any of the guarantees provided by law are broken in a serious way, then customers are entitled to a full refund.
"However, if customers change their mind or damage the goods themselves, you do not have to exchange, replace or refund , although you can chose to do so," the booklet also says.
"The Commission's job is to ensure businesses comply with the law," Mr Manch said. "We published the booklet for business people to help them get a good understanding of consumer law.
"And if it is being used by customers to help themselves get what they are entitled to, then that is another way of getting the information across to businesses."
The constantly recurring message the Commission gets from letters, seminars it holds and a series of visits to educate business people in towns where it has no office, is that business people need and want information about the law.
"We are very pleased with the response to this booklet and the increased awareness of consumer law it is causing," Mr Manch said.
