Protecting the Protecting the ConsumerConsumer

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 Protection Act Protection Act 20072007

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

1.1. Merchantable QualityMerchantable Quality

2.2. Fit for their purposeFit for their purpose

3.3. As describedAs described

4.4. Correspond to sampleCorrespond to sample

5.5. Suppliers of services must be Suppliers of services must be qualifiedqualified

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.

Consumer Protection Act Consumer Protection Act 20072007

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

Consumer Protection Act Consumer Protection Act 20072007

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

Consumer Protection Act Consumer Protection Act 20072007

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 priceselling price

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

Bar CodesBar Codes

Series of lines Series of lines on goods that on goods that allow computers allow computers to identify to identify productsproducts

Scanned at Scanned at check outscheck outs

Less mistakesLess mistakes Records stockRecords stock

SymbolsSymbols

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

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 €2,000€2,000

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

Fee of €15Fee of €15 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. Financial Services 7. Financial Services OmbudsmanOmbudsman 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

The MEDIAThe MEDIA

Joe Duffy ShowJoe Duffy Show

Highlights complaintsHighlights complaints

Embarrasses people into solving Embarrasses people into solving the problemthe problem