Aotearoa/New Zealand consumer law: Difference between revisions
Freorunning (talk | contribs) The basis of Aotearoa/New Zealand consumer law is the Consumers Guarantees Act - an act which only works if you the consumer make it work for you. |
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The corner stone of Aotearoa/New Zealand consumer law is the '''Consumer Guarantees Act 1993'''. <ref>https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0091/latest/DLM311053.html</ref> | {{Stub}} | ||
The corner stone of Aotearoa/New Zealand consumer law is the '''Consumer Guarantees Act 1993'''. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/91/en/latest/#DLM311053 |url-status=live |website=New Zealand Legislation}}([http://web.archive.org/web/20260118102813/https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0091/latest/DLM311053.html Archived])</ref> | |||
This act guarantees consumers '''five basic rights''' when buying goods. | This act guarantees consumers '''five basic rights''' when buying goods. | ||
Goods must be ''- of acceptable quality | Goods must be ''- of acceptable quality'' | ||
- fit for a particular purpose | - fit for a particular purpose | ||
- matched the description | - matched the description | ||
- reasonably priced | - reasonably priced | ||
- delivered in a reasonable time, and in good order | - delivered in a reasonable time, and in good order | ||
Like many laws there are exceptions | Like many laws there are exceptions | ||
If the consumer ''- changes their mind | If the consumer ''- changes their mind'' | ||
- if you knew product/good was faulty before buying | - if you knew product/good was faulty before buying | ||
- private sale/s between individuals | - private sale/s between individuals | ||
- business buying from business (this is covered by the Fair Trading Act 1986) | - business buying from business (this is covered by the Fair Trading Act 1986) | ||
- damaged after purchase | - damaged after purchase | ||
- intentional misuse | - intentional misuse | ||
All the above are not covered by the act. | All the above are not covered by the act. | ||
''' | |||
What are the remedies one can seek if they fit the criteria?''' | '''What are the remedies one can seek if they fit the criteria?''' | ||
Ask the company to repair or replace or refund the product. | Ask the company to repair or replace or refund the product. | ||
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Then you must go on a evidence gather process - which should included the following | Then you must go on a evidence gather process - which should included the following | ||
- date time and place of product and or service | - date time and place of product and or service | ||
- the issues with the product/service in relation to the act - ie: it not being fit for the purpose intended | |||
- the issues with the product/service in relation to the act - ie: it not being fit for the purpose intended | |||
- list all interactions with the business you dealt with | - list all interactions with the business you dealt with | ||
| Line 37: | Line 40: | ||
Failure to respond you may then apply to the disputes tribunal to get the case sorted before this court. | Failure to respond you may then apply to the disputes tribunal to get the case sorted before this court. | ||
YOU and Only You can uphold your consumer rights - if you do not take a stand - the law will not act independently of you the consumer. | '''YOU''' and '''Only You''' can uphold your consumer rights - if you do not take a stand - ''the law will not act independently of you the consumer''. | ||
'''Places to reach out to to help you with a consumer dispute.''' | '''Places to reach out to to help you with a consumer dispute.''' | ||
Citizens Advise Bureau <ref>https://www.cab.org.nz/find-a-cab</ref> | Citizens Advise Bureau <ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a CAB |url=https://www.cab.org.nz/find-a-cab |url-status=live |website=[[Citizens Advice Bureau]]}}([http://web.archive.org/web/20260212125529/https://www.cab.org.nz/find-a-cab Archived])</ref> | ||
or you local | or you local | ||
Community Law Centre <ref>https://communitylaw.org.nz/our-law-centres/</ref> | Community Law Centre <ref>{{Cite web |title=Our law centres |url=https://communitylaw.org.nz/our-law-centres/ |url-status=live |website=[[Community Law]]}}([http://web.archive.org/web/20251213034920/https://communitylaw.org.nz/our-law-centres/ Archived])</ref> | ||
==References== | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:New Zealand legislation]] | |||
Latest revision as of 02:01, 3 April 2026
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The corner stone of Aotearoa/New Zealand consumer law is the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. [1]
This act guarantees consumers five basic rights when buying goods.
Goods must be - of acceptable quality
- fit for a particular purpose
- matched the description
- reasonably priced
- delivered in a reasonable time, and in good order
Like many laws there are exceptions
If the consumer - changes their mind
- if you knew product/good was faulty before buying
- private sale/s between individuals
- business buying from business (this is covered by the Fair Trading Act 1986)
- damaged after purchase
- intentional misuse
All the above are not covered by the act.
What are the remedies one can seek if they fit the criteria?
Ask the company to repair or replace or refund the product. If a reasonable time frame is not offered you can get the good repaired yourself
What happens if a company does not follow the act?
Then you must go on a evidence gather process - which should included the following
- date time and place of product and or service
- the issues with the product/service in relation to the act - ie: it not being fit for the purpose intended
- list all interactions with the business you dealt with
Once the information is gathered then you must write a letter to the business and give then 10 working days to respond.
Failure to respond you may then apply to the disputes tribunal to get the case sorted before this court.
YOU and Only You can uphold your consumer rights - if you do not take a stand - the law will not act independently of you the consumer.
Places to reach out to to help you with a consumer dispute.
Citizens Advise Bureau [2]
or you local
Community Law Centre [3]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Consumer Guarantees Act 1993". New Zealand Legislation.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)(Archived) - ↑ "Find a CAB". Citizens Advice Bureau.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)(Archived) - ↑ "Our law centres". Community Law.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)(Archived)