Receipts and misleading sales

Asking for a receipt

Under the receipt provision, a trader who sells goods must issue a receipt on the purchaser’s demand. The receipt records the sale date, quantity, price and whether the transaction was wholesale or retail, along with any other requirements imposed by law.

Consumer Affairs Authority Act s 28

Misleading conduct

The Act prohibits a trader, in the course of trade or business, from conduct that misleads or deceives a consumer or another trader, or is likely to do so.

Consumer Affairs Authority Act s 30

Descriptions and promises

The false-representations provision covers matters including quality, claims that goods are new, benefits that goods or services do not have, and false or misleading statements about warranties or guarantees.

Consumer Affairs Authority Act s 31

Match the record to the issue

For a goods purchase, compare a requested receipt against the statutory particulars: sale date, quantity, price and wholesale or retail nature. A receipt is a record of the transaction; the receipt provision does not itself decide every dispute about quality or supply. For your own account, keep the receipt with the order, product description, payment record and correspondence. Note what was promised, what was supplied and when the difference became apparent. That separates the transaction details from the conduct or representation you want to examine.

Consumer Affairs Authority Act s 28

Look beyond the product description

The false-representations provision also covers a trader’s claimed sponsorship, approval or affiliation. It addresses false or misleading statements about price reductions or increases and the need for goods, services, replacements or repairs. The provision extends to promotion of the supply or use of goods or services as well as an actual or possible supply. When comparing a sales message with the section, keep the complete advertisement or communication so its context is visible. A statement about a discount and a statement about a warranty may raise different questions under the same provision.

Consumer Affairs Authority Act s 31

Prepare a clear question

Describe the particular statement or conduct, where it appeared, who made it and why you think it was inaccurate. Separate a request for a receipt from a concern about misleading conduct or a false representation. Keep copies of later explanations or corrections alongside the original material. These are preparation steps for reading the law or discussing the issue with an adviser; they are not a finding that the trader committed an offence, and they do not promise a refund or another remedy.

Read the source

Open the linked provisions to compare their wording with the issue you are researching. This introduction does not determine whether a particular sale breaches the Act or what remedy may be available.

Read this as a guide to the cited publications. Check later amendments before relying on them as current law.