I recently bought a second-hand car at auction and am having problems with it. What can I do?
I overpaid for something I bought from a door-to-door salesman. What can I do?
I’ve changed my mind about buying something. Does the shop have to take it back?
What do I do if I bought the wrong kind of item, like the wrong car tyre?
I broke something in a shop and they want me to pay for it. There were no signs warning me of their policy about this. Is that legal?
I am visiting from overseas. Can I claim my GST back when I leave?
I thought I bought a small fake Christmas tree but when I got home I realised it was a large one – too large! Does the shop have to give me a refund?
I recently bought a second-hand car at auction and am having problems with it. What can I do?
The Consumer Guarantees Act does not cover any goods bought at auction and you will probably have to sign an agreement about the terms of an auction. Make sure you read this so you are clear on where you stand. The Fair Trading Act does apply so the goods have to be the same as they were described to you. If you feel that your rights have been breached at an auction you can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for more help.
I overpaid for something I bought from a door-to-door salesman. What can I do?
If you bought the goods in the last week then you are still covered by the Door-to-Door Sales Act as long as you didn’t pay by cash. Only sales paid for on credit are covered by the Act. This Act gives you a seven-day ‘cooling off’ period. You can cancel any purchases within that seven-day period and the trader has to refund all the money you have paid and pick up the goods themselves. If you have complaints about a door-to-door sales company or you want more information then you can visit this website
I’ve changed my mind about buying something. Does the shop have to take it back?
No, the shop doesn’t have to take the goods back unless there is something wrong with them. If you have just changed your mind, it is worth asking anyway because some shops will give refunds or have a ‘change of mind policy’. That could include a refund but it is up to them. It is worth asking before you make a purchase.
What do I do if I bought the wrong kind of item, like the wrong car tyre?
You can always contact the retailer and ask them to swap it for the right size. They don’t have to do that, but most will if the item is in its original condition. Remember if you need any help with buying something like a car tyre you can contact your local mechanic who can choose and install the right car tyre for you so you shouldn’t have a problem there.
I broke something in a shop and they want me to pay for it. There were no signs warning me of their policy about this. Is that legal?
Shops don’t need to have a sign saying “If you break it, you buy it”. If you cause damage to items in a shop then you’re obliged to pay for the damage. If it wasn’t your fault, for example if you were pushed by a crowd against a stand of glasses, then you might not have to pay. Basically you have to take reasonable care when you are in a shop. And if your children break something then you will have to pay for that, too. If it was the shop’s fault, for example the shop was cluttered and hard to move around in, then you may not have to pay. If you and the shop can’t agree on whose fault the damage was, the Disputes Tribunal might be able to help. For more information contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
I am visiting from overseas. Can I claim my GST back when I leave?
No, there is no provision for a refund of goods and services tax for travellers in New Zealand.
I thought I bought a small fake Christmas tree but when I got home I realised it was a large one – too large! Does the shop have to give me a refund?
This depends on the situation. Was the tree advertised as being a different size to what it actually was? In that case you are entitled to a refund or replacement tree of the right size. Under the Consumer Guarantees Act goods have to match their description. If it was your mistake in picking up the wrong tree or not reading the dimensions on the box correctly, then the shop doesn’t have to give you a refund, but it might be worth checking. If you need more information contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.