Knowing your rights as a consumer

By Grace Ormsby

November 22 2019
Share

VIDEO: Have you ever bought a product that didn’t quite do what it was supposed to? Or maybe it looked different to the packaging? Had a piece missing? Or just completely didn’t work.

Under Australian Consumer Law, consumers are protected by a number of rights when they buy goods and services.

When you buy a product or service, it is automatically guaranteed that it will work and do what you asked for.

Businesses must guarantee the products or services they sell, hire or lease for less than $40,000, or over $40,000 that are normally bought for personal or household use.

Products must be of acceptable quality – they must be safe and lasting with no faults, look acceptable, and do all the things someone would normally expect them to do.

They must also match any descriptions provided on packaging or labels, be fit for purpose and come with full ownership.

Services must be provided with acceptable care and skill or technical knowledge, be fit for purpose, and delivered within a reasonable time frame.

But what about when something is wrong?

For products, consumers can claim a remedy from the retailer where products don’t meet consumer guarantees.

Remedies might include a repair, replacement or refund... In some cases, compensation for damages and loss might also be applicable

Remedies are also available from a manufacturer or importer if a product does not meet acceptable quality, match the description, fulfil extra promises made about the product, or require a spare part or repair.

For services, a remedy can be claimed form the supplier if the service does not meet any consumer guarantees.

Such remedies can include a cancelling of the service, and in some cases compensation for damages and loss.

Exceptions

Unfortunately, consumer guarantees won't apply where you change your mind, find it cheaper somewhere else, don’t like the product, misuse the product, were aware of its faults, or where you have gone against the advice of the business.

For more information, nestegg advises contacting the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

About the author

Grace Ormsby

Grace is a journalist on Momentum Media's nestegg. She enjoys being able to provide easy to digest information and practical tips for Australians with regard to their wealth, as well as having a platform on which to engage leading experts and commentators and leverage their insight.

About the author

Grace Ormsby

Grace is a journalist on Momentum Media's nestegg. She enjoys being able to provide easy to digest information and practical tips for Australians with regard to their wealth, as well as having a platform on which to engage leading experts and commentators and leverage their insight.

sections

most read

sections

most read

sections

most read

sections

most read

sections

most read

sections

most read

sections

most read

Most read

Age Pension increase prompts Australians to review their finances

Latest Podcast

Credit card use hits record high as Australians spend smarter

Resources

There is $17.5 billion in lost and unclaimed super across ...

Resources