The Fair Trading Act

The Fair Trading Act is the act put in place to ensure that consumers get exactly what they ask for so they can be confident in what they buy.

1. What is the Fair Trading Act?
   The Fair Trading Act is the act of prohibiting false advertising and fraud.
2. What is the commerce commission's goal?
   The commerce commission enforces certain laws, such as the ones that give loan rights and buying on credit.
3. Who besides the commission is responsible for the act and can take their own legal action?
   Consumers and producers.
4. Who are the 2 types of groups the act apply to?
   Again, consumers and producers.

Compliance Obligations

1. What do the acts apply to?
   New Zealand businesses that seek to deceive consumers by falsely advertising their product.
2. Does it only apply if you intend to deceive? Explain.
   Yes. The act only specifies things in the event that you intend to deceive consumers.
3. Whose 'shoes' must the business put themselves into?
   Their customers'.
4. What is the commission empowered to do?
   Enforce laws relating to competition and fair trading. 

Reporting a Business

1. If you need to report a business, how do you do this?
   You can report a business to the Commerce Commission by calling their number (0800 943 600) or emailing them (contact@comcom.govt.nz).

Know your rights

It is important to know your rights as a consumer in case you pay more for a product than you should've or you get a faulty product or even a product completely different to what you asked for. If any of these happen, it can be considered fraud or deceit. For example, I have bought what I thought was a large telescope about half the height of me (who is 166cm/5'4"), but I got only a small one similar to those cliche ones in pirate movies. You can report these kinds of businesses to the Commerce Commission via the methods above. It is important to be careful when buying online, and to make sure the product you get is exactly what you asked for.