Consumer column

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 419, 14 January 1992, Page 12

Consumer column

BY

ANI

WAAKA

I'm sure at one time or another we've all had the feeling of being led up the g arden path and finding at the end of it something quite different from what we were expecting. Well, don't despair. The next time you feel duped by products not doing what the advertisement said they would do, or the warranty not telling you the things it won't cover or shops advertising specials which aren't so special, remember the Fair Trading Act. This Act gives you protection against conduct of traders which

may mislead or deceive you; against representations that are false and against unfair practices. If you find yourself in that position, you can and should do something about it. You can be misled in many ways: • By the way goods are packaged- giving a misleading impression of how much is in the package or by the illustrations on the package. • By the labeling - this may say that goods are of a certain kind or made in a certain place and they are not. • By the advertising • By what the retailer tells you - ... and the list goes on and on. Basically the Fair Trading Act says that traders must be accurate and honest in the way they present and advertise their goods or services and they must not do or say anything that could mislead you. If a trader breaches the Act in a serious way they can be prosecuted by the Commerce Commission. If you think that you have received a raw deal and that the Act has been breached, check out the situation with one of the

agencies in your area; eg: Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Law Centre or ring me at the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, toll-free on 04-473-4490. So, be a discerning shopper and stay away from that garden path!