Misleading and Incomplete Descriptions

[crazyworld]

Hi all, I thought the following might be useful to us all:

 

Consumer Protection Act 1987:

 

"2.1.1 The Consumer Protection Act 1987 makes it an offence to indicate a price for goods or services which is lower than the one that actually applies. You should not therefore show one price in an advertisement, website, window display, shelf marking or on the item itself, and then charge a higher price at the point of sale or checkout. In addition, specific regulations apply to particular types of sales and ways of selling—eg retail sales (including the Internet), sales of food and drink which involve service, distance contracts, resale of tickets, package travel, etc. Your local Trading Standards Services or Home Authority will be pleased to advise you on the current regulations that are relevant to your business and of any good practice guidance which is also relevant.

 

2.2 Incomplete information and non-optional extras

 

2.2.1 Make clear in your price indication the full price consumers will have to pay for the product. The consumer should always be fully aware of the total cost including eg postage, packing, delivery charges, insurance, etc. before they commit themselves to the purchase. Some examples of how to provide this information in particular circumstances are set out below."

 

The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 - Guidance Note from Department of Trade and Industry Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate:

 

Definition and Marking Orders

Powers are available under the 1968 Act by which definitions of the words traders use to describe their goods or services could be laid down. Orders could also be made requiring goods to be marked with or accompanied by information necessary for consumers of the goods, or for such information to appear in any advertisement for the goods.

 

I have a couple of suggestions relating to bank charges and use of unauthorised overdraft facilities, what do you think?

 

 

A possible true description of Unauthorised overdraft facilities.

 

An unauthorised overdraft may only be used to recover our penalty charges from delinquent customers. Cheques, and direct debits will not be covered by the unauthorised overdraft facility, it is for our use only, and intended to allow us to add extra interest and charges on what could otherwise possibly be a balance in positive territory. This is a non optional extra provided at our convenience, for our convenience.