Consumer Right

Meaning of Consumer Rights

Consumption (or right of the consumer) is the name given to the set of rules emanating from public authorities aimed at the protection of the consumer or user in the market of goods and services, giving and regulating certain rights and obligations. The right of use is not an autonomous branch of the law, but a cross-discipline, with items that fit within commercial law, Civil law and others within the administrative law and procedural law.

The consumption law covers several key aspects of relations between producers and consumers:
• Contracts of adhesion: prohibits unfair terms that alter the contractual relationship in favour of the supplier of goods and services and tries to ensure that consumers know in advance all the General conditions of the contract which the employer intends to use.
• Quality of the goods and services offered: minimum requirements.
• Regulation of advertising and offers to the public.
• Establishes special procedures for which consumers, associations and public bodies created so that they can defend themselves and prohibit certain abusive practices.
• Lists a list of infractions by employers and the corresponding penalties imposed by the competent authorities of consumption.

Definition of the Consumer’s Rights

It refers to the consumer’s rights to the set of regulations and laws that have as main objective ensure the defence of any type of consumer situations in which does not respect his power or consumer status. The existence of this type of rights born from the extension of the mass consumption of goods and services and also the growing failure on the acquisition of those goods or services in time and manner, as they were hired.
All rights of the consumer part of the notion of that implied or explicitly, the consumer is such when it engages in any type of commercial relationship with the seller. Thus, although it is not registered by misuse of business practices, consumer happens to possess rights of claim, complaint and compensation, replacement, repair, etc. with respect to the good or service consumed if it does not comply with the conditions laid down to perform trade union.
While many companies and even individuals provide services and goods that then do not conform to the conditions offered, the consumer’s right will be filing claims, complaints or all kinds of protests. Common cases in this regard are offering promotions that are not met, prices that are not real, products that are not the displayed in brochures or advertisements, products that are defective or second line, null or shoddy repairs, etc.
All such situations are covered within what is known as the consumer’s right and therefore it can exercise different tactics to ensure compliance with their rights (which are at the same time the obligations of which offer a good or service). These tactics or strategies can be very variable and can range from a simple oral or written complaint to more serious complaints that will always be necessary to submit documents and receipts evidencing the role of each of the parties involved, as well as also the failure or the reason for the dissatisfaction of the consumer. These complaints may occur before the entity in question, before the consumer defense entities or, when the case is more serious, directly to justice.

Eight (8) Universal consumer’s rights:

1. Right to Basic Needs–which guarantees survival, adequate food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education and sanitation. With this right, consumers can look forward to the availability of basic and prime commodities at affordable prices and good.
2. Right to Safety—the consumer should be protected against the marketing of goods or the provision of that are hazardous to health and life.
3. Right to Information—the consumer should be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising or labeling and has the right to be given the facts and information needed to make an informed choice.
4. Right to Choose—the consumer has the right to choose from among various products at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality.
5. Right to Representation—the right to express consumer interests in the making and execution of government policies.
6. Right to Redress— the right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory.
7. Right to Consumer Education, which is the right to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to be an informed customer.
8. Right to a Healthy Environment—the right to live and work in an environment which is neither threatening nor dangerous and which permits a life of dignity and well-being.

ASSESSMENT

1. What is consumer right?
2. Identify Eight (8) Universal consumer’s rights?

Topic: responsibilities of a consumer

Content:

Who is a consumer?

When a baker produces bread, he produces it for someone to eat or to consume. A farmer produces yam for people to consume. A consumer is a person or group of people who buys and uses a product or service at a particular time. He is the end user of the product and the one who completes the process of production.

A customer on the other hand is a regular buyer of a product or service, who has established a sustainable relationship with the supplier or producer of the product. He may not necessarily be the end user of the product. For example, in some homes, the father buys noodles while the children eats the noodles. In this example, the father is the customer while the children are the consumers.

Consumer Responsibilities :

Total consumer protection is a collective effort. Its actualization demands collective input from not just manufacturers, service providers and Government, but also from the consumer. The consumer has the following responsibilities:

Be honest with the information you provide. – Always give full and accurate information when you are filling in any bank documents. Do not give false details or leave out important information.

Carefully read all information provided – When you submit your application, you should receive full details on the obligations for your service or product. Make sure you have access to the details of your obligations that you understand them and that you can comply with them.

Ask questions – It is important to ask questions to bank employees about anything that is unclear or a condition that you are unsure about. The staff will answer any questions in a professional manner to help you in your decision making.

Know how to make a complaint – You can be proactive in using this service and knowing how to escalate your issue to higher levels, if appropriate. Your bank will provide you with details on how to complain and the timeframe for their response.

Use the product or service in line with the terms and conditions – Do not use the product or service, except in accordance with the terms and conditions associatedwith them, and after making sure of your complete understanding

Avoiding risk – Do not purchase a product or service where you feel that the risks do not suit your financial situation. Some financial products or services carry risks and your bank should clearly explain these to you

Apply for products and/or services that meet your needs – When making a request for a product or service, you should make sure that is suits your needs. You must disclose all financial obligations with all parties to ensure the decision is based on your ability to meet you additional obligations after contracting for the product or service.

Report unauthorised transactions to your bank – If you have discovered unauthorised transactions on your account, you should report this to your bank immediately.

Do not disclose your banking information – Under no circumstances should you provide any bank account details or other sensitive personal or financial information to any other party.

Talk to your bank if you are encountering financial difficulties – By talking to your bank, you can discuss possible alternative repayment arrangements that will enable you to fully discharge your responsibilities.

Updating information – You should update your personal information, including contact information, so that it is updatedcontinuously and also when so requested by the bank. You are responsible for failing to provide all relevant information to the bank

Your mail address – Use your own mail address (regular mail and e-mail) when giving contact details to your bank. Do not use other friends’ or relatives’ mail addresses which can expose your financial information to others.

Power of Attorney – Be careful when dealing with ‘Power of Attorney’. Know what information that you are giving access to and to whom you are giving power over your financial matters.

Do not sign uncompleted forms – Make sure all of the required fields and numbers are completed in a form that is presented to you for signing or initialling. Do not sign empty or partially completed forms.

Review all of your documents – Review all of your documents before you sign them to ensure no errors are made in the account number or amount. Your signature is an approval and agreement of the document content.

Keeping copies of your documents – Keep all documents in a safe place that are provided to you by the bank. They should provide you with a copy of signed contracts and other relevant documents and papers.

ASSESSMENT

1. Who is a consumer?
2. List EIGHT responsibilities of a consumer?