A News for Business on the obligations of suppliers producing goods or services dealing with the Y2K problem has been issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
"This publication canvasses basic responsibilities under the Trade Practices Act 1974 to businesses, suppliers and manufacturers," ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.
"This includes not misleading or deceiving consumers over the Y2K compliance of goods or services or misrepresenting whether or how a good will cope with Y2K. It also reminds businesses about conditions and warranties implied by the Act into contracts between consumers and suppliers.
"The implied conditions and warranties provide consumers with a right of action where goods or services are not fit for their purpose because of the Y2K problem or where goods do not match their description, for example, a video recorder that is marked as Y2K compliant but is not.
"The publication also stresses that businesses should be careful not to use the Y2K problem to mislead or deceive consumers into buying unnecessary upgrades or accessories.
"Also discussed in the publication is the Y2K compliance of personal computers. Businesses should be aware that the level of Y2K compliance required in a personal computer is determined by what uses the consumer is going to put the computer to. Businesses should not push unnecessary Y2K fixes or upgrades onto consumers who, because of their intended usage, will not need these goods.
"Consumers are particularly vulnerable to misrepresentations over Y2K because of the problem's complexity and/or lack of knowledge and information. The ACCC is concerned that businesses might not be aware of or may use this situation to prey on vulnerable consumers".
"This publication canvasses basic responsibilities under the Trade Practices Act 1974 to businesses, suppliers and manufacturers," ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.
"This includes not misleading or deceiving consumers over the Y2K compliance of goods or services or misrepresenting whether or how a good will cope with Y2K. It also reminds businesses about conditions and warranties implied by the Act into contracts between consumers and suppliers.
"The implied conditions and warranties provide consumers with a right of action where goods or services are not fit for their purpose because of the Y2K problem or where goods do not match their description, for example, a video recorder that is marked as Y2K compliant but is not.
"The publication also stresses that businesses should be careful not to use the Y2K problem to mislead or deceive consumers into buying unnecessary upgrades or accessories.
"Also discussed in the publication is the Y2K compliance of personal computers. Businesses should be aware that the level of Y2K compliance required in a personal computer is determined by what uses the consumer is going to put the computer to. Businesses should not push unnecessary Y2K fixes or upgrades onto consumers who, because of their intended usage, will not need these goods.
"Consumers are particularly vulnerable to misrepresentations over Y2K because of the problem's complexity and/or lack of knowledge and information. The ACCC is concerned that businesses might not be aware of or may use this situation to prey on vulnerable consumers".