Two new websites for consumers become available this month. The Consumers' Association of Ireland's (CAI) information site is already up and running. It has almost everything you'd want to know on consumer rights in a brief and easy-to-navigate format. The most innovative part of the site offers a sample of retailers' responses when a consumer is trying to return a faulty product. If, for example, the shopkeeper says: "It's not our fault, write to the manufacturer," the consumer has every right to say: "I'm afraid that's wrong. My contract is with you, the retailer, not the manufacturer. You are legally responsible for rectifying the problem under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980. If you want to contact the manufacturer later, that's your prerogative but it has nothing to do with me."
Consumers who wish to use the small claims procedure or lodge an official complaint against a retailer or service provider will find useful information on the site regarding filing procedures and consumer rights under the law.
A special section called Fridge Focus details safe ways to buy food for the home or when eating out. It includes safety tips like storing raw food on the bottom shelf and avoiding contact between raw and cooked food. The website's frequently used questions area is a good place to browse for helpful hints when purchasing, returning or renting new or used goods. One Web page covers recent developments in consumer affairs and the CAI's response to them, including the small claims procedure, financial protection and food quality. If you aren't sure which laws protect you as a consumer, a legal protection area summarises rights under both the Consumer Information Act 1978 and the Liability for Defective Products Act, 1991.
In two weeks the European Consumer Centre (ECC) will launch its own website. In addition to consumer rights issues and laws, a special section will include information on the changeover to the euro. Many consumers are concerned that, like decimalisation, the change will allow retailers and service providers to overcharge. The website will explain ways that the euro will impact on consumers and the measures being taken to prevent overcharging by banks and others.
At the moment, there is no real legal protection for those buying goods from a distance through mail-order catalogues, book or music clubs. The ECC website will explore the 1997 directive on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts. Since the directive is unlikely to come into force here until June 2000, consumers may now only plead that a term in the contract is unfair.
Under the directive, a person has a cooling-off period of seven days to withdraw from the contract. In some circumstances, this may be extended to up to three months. The ECC website will also feature a mail-back request form for comments and suggestions. Links to other relevant European and international sites will be included.
The ECC is in its third year of operation and is 50 per cent funded by the European Commission and 50 per cent by the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs. The ECC web address will be: http://www.ecic.ie
