Consumers’ Rights
Consumers’ organisations
The first organisation was established in 1960 as the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (IOCU).
Consumers’ organizations may operate by protests and campaigning.
CONSUMERS’ ORGANISATIONS IN
SEVERAL COUNTRIES
International Organisations
Consumers’ International - International NGO
ANEC (Europe; focus on standardization) BEUC (Europe; French: Bureau Européen
des Unions de Consommateurs) ICRT T independent international
organization for consumer research and testing;
Organisations
Countries Organisations
Australia� Consumers' Federation of
Australia
� Australian Consumers Association
Belgium � Test-Aankoop / Test-Achats ----------
Botswana � Consumer Watchdog ----------
Brazil � Proteste ----------
Fiji � Consumer Council of Fiji� Fiji Consumers
Association
France � UFC Que Choisir ----------
Germany � Stiftung Warentest � Öko-Test
Portugal Deco Proteste ----------
Spain Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios ----------
DO YOU KNOW WHAT RIGHTS YOU HAVE WHEN SOMETHING
YOU BUY BREAKS OR DOESN'T WORK
PROPERLY?
Consumers have the right:
To the satisfaction of basic needs To safety To be informed To choose To be heard To redress (to correct something that is
unfair or wrong) To a healthy environment
CONSUMING LESS HELPS THE ENVIRONMENT
Buy less – buy what you need. Choose ethical products and companies. Avoid excessive packaging. Shop at traditional markets. Ignore marketing ads and brand marketing. Use reusable products. Recycle and ask your friends to recycle too.
YOU CAN GET HELP IF YOU’RE TREATED UNFAIRLY OR WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
This includes:
Faulty goods Poor service
Problems with contracts Problems with builders
Dishonest traders
DON'T assume you can exchange it if it's the wrong size.
DO write 'it's a gift' on receipts.
Legally, only the person who paid has a right to return faulty goods.
DON'T think 'no receipt' means 'no return‘.
DO return it to the store, NOT the manufacturer.
With faulty goods, you simply need to prove purchase. This could be the receipt, but any other legitimate record - such as a bank statement - should be fine.
WORLD CONSUMERS’
RIGHTS DAY 15th
MARCH
On 15th March 1962, President John F Kennedy gave a speech to the US congress in which he formally mentioned the issue of consumers’ rights. He was the first world leader to do so, and the consumer movement now marks 15th March every year as a means of raising global awareness about consumers’ rights.
World Consumer Rights’ Day is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity of the international consumer movement.
IN PORTUGAL WE HAVE
DECO
Registered with the name Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection, DECO constituted itself with a clear objective: to protect the rights and legitimate interests of consumers.
In 2009, DECO celebrated its 35th anniversary.
DECO offers a support service to the consumer through which it informs and advises consumers on their rights. They contact the authorities claimed to resolve consumer disputes and denounces practices that are prejudicial to the interests of consumers.
No 287 - January 2008th
No 298 - January 2009th
No 309 - January 2010th
No 331 - January 2012th
No 320 - January 2011th
No 342 - January 2013th
Service information
808 200 145Blue number
(fixed network)
218 410 858(mobile phone)
Opening Hours: Working days- From 9am to 13pm and
from 14pm to 18pm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlU6Xlz9DD0
Don’t be