Chapter 9: Protecting Chapter 9: Protecting the Consumerthe Consumer

Consumer LawsConsumer Laws

Reasons for Consumer Reasons for Consumer ProtectionProtection

Unsafe or Low Quality GoodsUnsafe or Low Quality Goods Overcharging and incorrect Overcharging and incorrect

weightsweights Misleading AdvertisementsMisleading Advertisements Slick sales methodSlick sales method

Consumer LawsConsumer Laws

Sale of Goods Sale of Goods and Supply of and Supply of Services Act Services Act 19801980

Consumer Consumer Information Act Information Act 19781978

Sale of Goods and Supply of Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980Services Act 1980

Merchantable QualityMerchantable Quality Goods and services should be of Goods and services should be of

reasonable quality considering reasonable quality considering the amount paidthe amount paid

Fit for their purposeFit for their purpose Goods should be able to perform Goods should be able to perform

their normal taskstheir normal tasks

Sale of Goods and Supply of Sale of Goods and Supply of services 1980services 1980 As describedAs described

Goods sold by description should Goods sold by description should match the descriptionmatch the description

Correspond to sampleCorrespond to sample Goods sold by sample should match Goods sold by sample should match

the descriptionthe description Suppliers of services must be Suppliers of services must be

qualifiedqualified A seller must be able to do the work A seller must be able to do the work

properlyproperly

It is the seller's responsibility to It is the seller's responsibility to put things right if there are put things right if there are problems.problems.

The contract is between the a The contract is between the a consumer and seller. In return consumer and seller. In return for payment the goods should for payment the goods should meet certain conditionsmeet certain conditions

Illegal signsIllegal signs

Sellers cannot get out of their Sellers cannot get out of their responsibilities by displaying responsibilities by displaying certain signscertain signs

‘‘All items on this rack half All items on this rack half price- items soiled’price- items soiled’

One cannot return goods for a One cannot return goods for a flaw that the seller has already flaw that the seller has already said to be presentsaid to be present Cavet EmptorCavet Emptor

Consumer Information Act Consumer Information Act 19781978

Protects consumers against Protects consumers against false or misleading claims about false or misleading claims about goods or servicesgoods or services

This law is enforced by the This law is enforced by the Director of Consumer AffairsDirector of Consumer Affairs

Consumer Information Act Consumer Information Act 19781978

Forbids suppliers giving any Forbids suppliers giving any misleading info about:misleading info about: GoodsGoods ServicesServices PricePrice QualityQuality

Consumer Information Act Consumer Information Act 19781978

Goods on sale must have been Goods on sale must have been on sale at the higher price for at on sale at the higher price for at 28 days in the previous 3 28 days in the previous 3 months.months.

Forbidden to publish any ad that Forbidden to publish any ad that is likely to cause loss, damage is likely to cause loss, damage or injury to the publicor injury to the public

Food LabelsFood Labels

Clear, legible Clear, legible and understoodand understood

Show name of Show name of foodfood

Show actual Show actual selling price and selling price and unit price per kgunit price per kg

Show use by, Show use by, sell by and best sell by and best before date.before date.

Bar Codes and SymbolsBar Codes and Symbols

Series of lines on Series of lines on goods that allow goods that allow computers to computers to identify productsidentify products

Scanned at check Scanned at check outs- speeds up outs- speeds up transactionstransactions

Less mistakesLess mistakes Records stockRecords stock Provide info about Provide info about

the productthe product

Bar Codes and SymbolsBar Codes and Symbols

Symbols of Symbols of qualityquality

It tells the buyer It tells the buyer that the good is that the good is of good qualityof good quality

It provides info It provides info on the country on the country of origin, of origin, company, company, product number, product number, price and weightprice and weight

Unit PricingUnit Pricing

Unit pricing shows the price per kilo/litreUnit pricing shows the price per kilo/litre It enables a consumer to decide what is the It enables a consumer to decide what is the

best value.best value. Food labels must show the price per Food labels must show the price per

kilo/litre rather than overall price.kilo/litre rather than overall price. Consumers can compare prices the best Consumers can compare prices the best

prices per kilo/litre rather than total price by prices per kilo/litre rather than total price by using the formulausing the formula PricePrice

____________ QuantityQuantity

Consumer Protection AgenciesConsumer Protection Agencies

1.1. Enterprise IrelandEnterprise Ireland2.2. Trade AssociationsTrade Associations3.3. Office of the Director of Office of the Director of

Consumer AffairsConsumer Affairs4.4. Small Claims CourtSmall Claims Court5.5. Consumer Association of IrelandConsumer Association of Ireland6.6. Office of the OmbudsmanOffice of the Ombudsman7.7. Ombudsman for Credit Ombudsman for Credit

InstitutionsInstitutions8.8. Insurance Ombudsman of IrelandInsurance Ombudsman of Ireland

1. Enterprise Ireland1. Enterprise Ireland

State Organisation that sets new State Organisation that sets new standards for safety and quality standards for safety and quality of new goods & services and of new goods & services and issues reportsissues reports

Operates the National Operates the National Standards Authority of Ireland Standards Authority of Ireland NSAINSAI

2. Trade Associations2. Trade Associations

Suppliers of goods and services Suppliers of goods and services are members of organisations are members of organisations which lay down standards of which lay down standards of conduct for their membersconduct for their members

These associations try to settle These associations try to settle disputes between members and disputes between members and customerscustomers

E.g. Irish travel agents E.g. Irish travel agents association ITAAassociation ITAA

3. Office of the Director of 3. Office of the Director of Consumer AffairsConsumer Affairs Enforces the Enforces the

Consumer Consumer information act information act 19781978

Publishes Publishes booklets advising booklets advising consumers of consumers of their rights their rights

4. Small Claims Court4. Small Claims Court

Deals with consumer Deals with consumer claims up to claims up to €1,270€1,270

Handles claims Handles claims speedily – no solicitors speedily – no solicitors neededneeded

Fee of €9Fee of €9 Need to settle dispute Need to settle dispute

with seller before going with seller before going to the small claims to the small claims courtcourt

5. Consumer Association of 5. Consumer Association of IrelandIreland Voluntary BodyVoluntary Body Advises consumers Advises consumers

about goods and about goods and services and laws services and laws affecting themaffecting them

Consumer Choice Consumer Choice magazinemagazine

6. Office of the Ombudsman6. Office of the Ombudsman

Investigates Investigates complaints by complaints by members of the members of the public against public against state state organisationsorganisations

E.g. government E.g. government departmentsdepartments

7. Ombudsman for Credit 7. Ombudsman for Credit InstitutionsInstitutions Deals with Deals with

complaints complaints against banks against banks and building and building societies.societies.

Try to deal with Try to deal with the dispute with the dispute with the bank before the bank before you call upon you call upon the ombudsmanthe ombudsman

8. Insurance Ombudsman of 8. Insurance Ombudsman of IrelandIreland Deals with Deals with

complaints against complaints against insurance insurance companies about companies about overcharging and overcharging and compensation compensation paymentspayments