Consumers Flashcards
Indicate 3 reasons why the consumer world is complex
Incredible array of choice
Products and contracts have become increasingly complex
Multiple methods to purchase products
What is meant by the term laissez faire?
Little or no government intervention
What is meant by the term caveat emptor?
Let the buyer beware
Which 1892 case about the advertising of a reward for the failure of a flu remedy, established the elements of a contract such as offer and acceptance?
Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co (1892)
What are the elements of a contract?
Offer Acceptance Consideration Legally binding intent Capacity to enter a contract
Which 1919 case established that agreements between relatives do not generally have a legally binding intent?
Balfour v Balfour (1919)
Give 2 examples of common contracts which have exclusion clauses. Which case established that exclusion clauses must be made clear to the consumer prior to entering a contract?
Insurance Dangerous activities (eg skydiving)
Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking (1971)
What are the two types of terms in contracts?
- Express - clearly spoken terms
2. Implied - always present in contracts despite not being discussed.
Which NSW statute first implied terms into consumer contracts?
Which Federal statute first implied terms into consumer contracts?
Give 3 examples of terms implied into contracts under these Acts
The Sale of Goods Act 1923 (NSW)
The Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)
Egs:
Goods must be of merchantable quality
Goods must be fit for purpose
Goods must match description
Which law now implies terms into consumer contracts?
What are these implied terms now called?
Why was the language changed? Give another example of how the language surrounding implied terms have changed
The Australian Consumer Law
Now called Consumer Guarantees
Language simplified to make the law more accessible
Eg: merchantable quality now ‘acceptable quality’
Give 3 examples of consumer guarantees
Acceptable quality
Fit for purpose
Match description
What are the 3 usual remedies for the failure of ensuring the consumer guarantees are met?
Refund
Repair
Replacement
What are two types of unjust contracts?
Unconscionable conduct
Unfair terms in standard form contracts
Name 2 cases which have established the principles of unconscionable conduct.
Blomley v Ryan
Commercial Bank of Australia v Amadio (1983)
Name 2 statutes that define unconscionable conduct and put in place suitable remedies for such behaviour.
Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW)
Australian Consumer Law (Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth))
How does the Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) define unjust contracts?
Behaviour that is unconscionable, harsh or oppressive
What is a standard form contract? Give an example. Which law regulates these contracts?
Contracts that are standard for all consumers and given on a “take it or leave it” basis. Examples include: airline contracts, electricity contracts, gym memberships. Law: Australian Consumer Law
What is the process for dealing with unfair terms in standard form contracts?
Consumers may take the matter to court to have the unfair term removed from the contract.
The ACCC may also take businesses to court on behalf of all consumers.
Name a business successfully prosecuted by the ACCC in the courts for the unfair terms in their standard form contracts
ACCC v Bytecard (2013) - the court ordered that 3 unfair terms be removed and that Bytecard pay half the court costs of the ACCC.
Name the case which established the concept of negligence and that businesses have a duty of care to provide products that are free from harm.
Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) - “snail in the bottle” case
Which Australian case built on the concept of negligence established in Donoghue v Stevenson?
Grant v Australian Knitting Mills (1936)
Name a contemporary example of negligence in the consumer world.
Samaan v KFC (2012) - KFC were found to have been negligent and failed in their duty of care after a young girl suffered severe brain damage from salmonella poisoning. She was awarded $8million in damages.
What is meant by unconscionable conduct?
Occurs when one party to a contract exploits the vulnerability of the other party. This could be because the victim is impaired in some way or is deceived or threatened by the other party
Name 2 cases which demonstrate the willingness of the courts to intervene in cases of unconscionable conduct.
Blomley v Ryan (1956) - illiteracy, alcoholism, mental impairment.
Commercial Bank of Australia v Amadio (1983) - English language skills.
Which 2 pieces of legislation regulate unjust contracts?
Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW)
Australian Consumer Law
Both outline the nature of unjust contracts and unconscionable conduct and provide a range of remedies when it is found to have occurred.
Name a case where a company has been prosecuted for unconscionable conduct by the ACCC
ACCC v Craftmatic - fined $19800 for conduct when selling beds to the elderly.
What is the process of redress and the remedy when unfair terms are found in standard form contracts?
Redress process: Consumers can apply to the courts to…
Remedy:….have the term removed from the contract.
Name a case where the ACCC has prosecuted a company for unfair terms in their standard form contracts.
ACCC v Bytecard (2013). They were forced to remove 3 terms from their contracts.
(This was the first case prosecuted under this new law)
Which case established the precedent that manufacturers have a duty of care to provide safe products otherwise they can be found to be negligent?
Donaghue v Stevenson
Which Australian case built on the precedent established in Donaghue v Stevenson?
Grant v Australian Knitting Mills (1936)
What 4 issues could you discuss with the contemporary issue Technology?
E-commerce Spam Scams Mobile phones You could also do: Daily deals websites And, if you're clever, mobile phones
Which law protects consumers when they buy online from an Australian based business?
The ACL (consumer guarantees)
Why is it difficult to protect consumers when they buy online from overseas?
Because the ACL and ACCC have no international jurisdiction and therefore no powers of enforcement. They therefore suggest consumers take a caveat emptor approach.
Which international organization can assist consumers when they have dispute with overseas online retailers. What do they do?
Econsumer.
They keep a database of complaints which be investigated by the participating nations’ consumer regulatory bodies (ie, ACCC). They can also direct consumers to a mediation service to resolve disputes.
How much did consumers spend on online shopping in 2014?
$16billion
What non-legal measures can assist consumers when buying online?
Econsumer
ACCC and NSW Fair Trading website have advice for consumers
The media (advice they provide through reports and articles)
How much did Australians lose to scams in 2014?
$90million
Why is occupational licensing important?
- Risk of harm if jobs are poorly carried out
2. Rely on certain occupations to have minimum standards and must trust that they tell us the correct information.
Name an Act which regulates licensing for a particular industry.
Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) - if you want to do builders
Motor Dealers and Repairers Act 2013 (NSW) - if you want to do motor dealers or mechanics
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 (Cth) - if you want to do doctors
Name an issue which highlights a failure of the occupational licensing system
Issue of traveling conmen.
What penalties can be enforced for operating without a license or not meeting minimum standards?
Fines of $110,000 (note, this is for builders and car dealers/repairers under their respective Acts) for operating without a license.
License can be revoked. Tradespeople can have theirs revoked by NSW Fair Trading. Doctors can have theirs revoked by the Medical Board of Australia.
Which law regulates misleading and deceptive advertising and marketing?
The Australian Consumer Law
What kind of conduct is prohibited under the ACL with regard to marketing and advertising?
GENERAL misleading and deceptive conduct - any conduct which may mislead consumers as to the quality or price of a good
SPECIFIC misleading and deceptive conduct - eg bait advertising and was/now pricing.
Name 5 penalties that can be implemented under the ACL for misleading and deceptive conduct?
- Civil Pecuniary Penalty (handed down by the Federal Court) - maximum $1.1m for corporations and $220,000 for individuals
- Infringement notices (on the spot fines issued by the ACCC)
- Compliance training
- Corrective advertising
- Injunctions
Name a case prosecuted by the ACCC in the Federal Court for misleading conduct and the penalty handed down.
ACCC v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (2015) - $2.5m civil pecuniary penalty
What are the steps in the redress process?
Self help and awareness Seek assistance from government bodies Seek assistance from industry organisations Tribunals Courts Non-legal: Media and NGos
What is the most common reason consumers seek a remedy having purchased a good?
Failure to meet Consumer Guarantees outlined in the ACL (eg acceptable quality, failure to match description, not fit for purpose)
What are the most common remedies sought by consumers?
The 3Rs - Replacement, refund, repair