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Good you buy must be of "acceptable quality"
If you buy consumer goods from a New Zealand business, you are protected by law. The Consumer Guarantees Act says that those goods must be of “acceptable quality” under the law. But what does this actually mean?
Basically it means that anything you buy from a business should do what you would expect it to, and last a reasonable length of time.
Under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) a product is of acceptable quality if it:
is fit for its normal purpose (eg a vacuum cleaner should clean the floor well),
is in good working order (eg a vacuum cleaner should work reliably),
has an acceptable finish and appearance (eg a new vacuum cleaner should not have dents or scratches),
has no minor defects (eg a vacuum cleaner hose should be securely attached not loose),
is safe to use (eg a vacuum cleaner should not overheat) and
is durable (eg a vacuum cleaner should last a reasonable amount of time before breaking down).
If you arrange for the business to deliver the product to you, they are responsible for ensuring that it arrives in good working order.
You do need to take into consideration the age and price of the item. For example, you would not expect a very cheap item to last as long as a more expensive version; and you might expect to see some wear and tear on a secondhand item but not on a brand new one.
Another thing to remember is that if the business points out any faults with an item before you buy it, you can’t claim for those faults later.
If the goods are not of acceptable quality, you can go back to the business as soon as you find a problem with it and they have to do something to put it right. Keep a record of problems you have had with it, such as when it has inexplicably stopped working, and receipts for any repairs you’ve had to get done to it.
Depending on what the problem is, the business must:
repair it at no cost to you, or
replace the item or give you a refund if it can’t easily be fixed.
The business can’t simply refer you to the manufacturer, require you to return the item in its original packaging, or offer you store credit instead of a refund. Don’t be put off if the warranty has expired - if you reasonably expect something to last several years, then you can go back to the business if there’s a problem with it.
If the product is faulty and caused damage to your property, you may be entitled to compensation for that.
If you do strike any problems getting the problem fixed just give your local CAB a call or visit.
For more information, visit our Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act page or the Consumer Protection page on faulty products.
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Looking for help in your garden?
Hi Neighbours,
My name is Harry and I have just started Good Nature Gardens.
With 10 years industry experience and qualifications in Landscape design and horticulture your garden is in safe hands. From lawn mowing to building planter boxes, we do it all. Visit our website to see our full range of services.
I can provide professional advice and quotes for all your garden projects.
I am local and ready to work so get in touch today!
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LIVE Q&A: Financial well-being with Cat Rikihana
Today (Wednesday) we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Cat Rikihana who is a financial mentor, educator and financial capability practitioner at Financial Freedom Trust in the Manawatū.
Cat Rikihana (Ngai Tahu) like many financial mentors around Aotearoa, works with individuals, groups and whānau to successfully navigate financial stress and hardship. Mentors work alongside whānau to increase confidence and skills in personal money management and advocate with and for clients. Cat enjoys delivering online and face-to-face workshops which provide opportunities to normalise money conversations and encourages people to make time to consider their financial well-being.
Cat is also an independent financial well-being coach, educator and indigenous life coach at Restore Wellness Network. She is a published writer and currently in the process of writing her first non-fiction book: 'A financial self-care guide for women in Aotearoa.'
She'd love to answer any questions you may have around your budgeting and spending habits, strategies for saving, retirement planning and debt. (Don't be shy, but be mindful about what you disclose!)
↓ Share your questions now and Cat will reply to your comment below ↓
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Addictive Eaters Anonymous
AEA member blog posts. \
AEA members have a wide range of Addictive Eating experiences and have found sobriety in AEA through coming to meetings and working the Twelve Steps. Read our member's experiences of the changes in them after coming into AEA.
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