Disputes Tribunal a simpler option

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 422, 4 February 1992, Page 6

Disputes Tribunal a simpler option

When you have a dispute with someone, the prospect of taking some sort of action in court may be daunting. It is an expensive businesslawyer's fees, court costs, the stresses and strains of finding your consumer column

by

ani

Waaka

way around the legal system.... Thankfully, there is a simpler solution. The Disputes Tribunal is set up and run through the Justice Department and one is attached to every District Court. You file your claim at the court closest to where you live, regardless of where the other party to the dispute is.

The Tribunal is a time - and cost- effective way of disputing a variety of matters. You do not need a lawyer (in fact representation is only allowed in certain situations) and you represent yourself. The Tribunal can hear claims up to $3000 or $5000 with the agreement of both parties. Continued below

Consumer Column

From above left The cost of using the Tribunal is a $10 fee for claims up to $1000 and $20 for any claims over $1000. The Tribunal is different from ordinary courts in that it has limited powers on what it can consider and make rulings on. For example, the Tribunal can hear claims about contracts that haven't been properly filled but it cannot hear claims on the title to land. The court staff will help you to decide whether the claim falls within the Tribunal's bounds of authority. Nevertheless, the claim must always involve a dispute betwecn two or more parties and cannot be used as a debt collection system. If you need assistance filling out the form, the staff can also assist you. You need to put down as many details as possible about your claim including all relevant documentation and anything else that may help your claim: eg maps, diagrams, photographs, quotations, letters, sworn statements from witnesses or expert opinions. If you don't have all the information ready but you wish to lodge the claim, you can fill out the form and file the rest of the information with the court a week before the hearing. The Tribunal will set a date for the hearing and inform the other party to the dispute that a claim has been lodged against them and of the date of the hearing. Since June 1991 the Tribunal has been given extra powers to hear claims for what is Turnpage8

Consumer column

From page 6 known as "consequential loss'- eg distress, pain and suffering, loss of your no claims bonus on your insurance etc. If you wish to take a claim to the Disputcs Tribunal, you will need to fill in a form that the tribunal uses. These are available from your local District Court officcs or from some Citizen's Advice Bureaux.