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