Protecting the consumer..

Protecting the consumer..

1. Reasons for consumer protection

   • unsafe or low quality goods
   • overcharging and incorrect weights
   • misleading advertisements
   • slick sales methods

2. consumer laws

   • Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980
     • merchantable quality
     • fit for their purpose
     • as described
     • correspond to sample
     • suppliers of services must be qualified
   • Consumer Protection Act 2007
     • protects the consumers against false or misleading claims about goods or services
     • forbids suppliers giving any misleading info about
       • goods
         • services
           • price
             • quality
     • goods on sale must have been on sale at the higher price for at 28 days in the previous 3 months
     • forbidden to publish any ad that is likely to cause damage or injury to the public

3. Food labels

   • clear, legible and understood
   • show name of food
   • show actual selling price
   • show use by sell by and best before date

4. Bar codes

   • series of lines on goods that allow computers to identify products
   • scanned at check outs
   • less mistakes
   • records stock

5. Symbols

   • symbols of quality
   • it tells the buyer that the good is of good quality

6. Unit pricing

   • shows the price per kilo/litre
   • it enables a consumer to decide what is the best value
   • food labels must show the price per kilo/litre rather than overall preice
   • consumers can compare prices the best prices per kilo/litre by price over quantitiy

7. Consumer protection agencies

   • Enterprise Ireland
     • State organisation that sets new standards for safety and quality of new goods and services and issues reports
     • operates the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)
   • Trade Associations
     • suppliers of goods and services are members of organisations which lay down standards of conduct for their members
     • these associations try to settle disputes between members and customers
       • E.g; Irish Travel Agents Association (ITTA
   • Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs
     • enforces the Consumer act 1978
     • publishes booklets advising consumers of their rights
   • Small Claims Court
     • deals with consumer claims up to 4,000 euro
     • handles claims speedily~no solicitors needed
     • fee of fifteen euro
     • need to settle dispute before with seller before going to the small claims court
   • Consumer Association of Ireland
     • voluntary body
     • advises consumers about goods and services and laws affecting them
     • Consumer Choice magazine
   • Office of the Ombudsman
     • investigates complaints by members of the public against state organisations
     • E.g government departments
   • Ombudsman for Credit Institutions
     • deals with complaints against bank and buildings societies
     • try to deal with dispute with the bank before you call upon the ombudsman
   • Insurance Ombudsman of Ireland
     • deals with complaints against insurance companies about overcharging and compensation payments
   • the media
     • Joe Duffy show
     • highlights complaints
     • embarrasses people into solving the problem