Finding out you've been

cheated 1s

bad. Finding ou

it’s legal is even worse.

Most deals are good deals but too often un-
suspecting consumers have been taken for a ride by
unscrupulous businesses. What seemed like a fair deal —
turned out to be a raw deal and to make matters worse It
was legal. Now all that’s changed because of the Trade
Practices Act — the first of its kind in Canada. It’s
designed to stop ‘sharp’ practices and in doing this it also
helps honest businesses who've had to put up with unfair
competitors for too long.

Now the law can
help you stand up

for your rights.

The Trade Practices Act is now law in British
Columbia and will be administered by the Department of
Consumer Services. ; 4 i

Its aims are quite simple: to stop misleading an ;
deceptive practices quickly and to help consumers recove
their losses if someone has taken advantage of them.

By familiarizing yourself with the Act you He San
become an informed consumer making it far more dif icult
for you to be the victim of an illegal practice. And if She
should become the victim, the Act will help open the doors
to the court so you can stand up for your rights.

Consumer trans-
actions defined.

Doing business in the marketplace of the 70's is
often more than just the straight sale of merchandise.
So the Trade Practices Act also defines the leasing of %
goods, the supplying of services and the granting of credit, _
as consumer transactions. This definition applies where
you've entered the deal after July 5, 1974. Only dealings
governed by real estate, insurance and securities
legislation are exempt.

es of illegal
ce practices.

Two basic types of practices are prohibited by the
Act: deceptive and unconscionable. .
Deceptive practices include everythin
dishonest sales pitch to misleading advertising a
solicitations or exaggerated repair estimates. In ot ere
words if it’s misleading, or has the tendency to mistv¢
it’s deceptive. : i
Let's say you were told your new car pulleet 30
miles to the gallon” when in fact youll probably have
difficulty in getting 20 miles to the gallon —
that’s deceptive. f
Another example is T.V. repairs. Youre oe en
_ need a new $75 picture tube when all your set needs
some minor adjustments.

If the court agrees that you've been wala ta 3
you have a right to recover any loss or damages a oe
and the deceptive practice will also be stopped — a good.

An unconscionable practice is one that involves
high pressure tactics and slippery, tricky deals. You Me
been conned, the business in question knows It and the
court won't enforce the “bargain”. Or to put 1! more ;
Politely, if the agreement is so highly unreasonable as to
be unfair, or the circumstances surrounding the trans :
are overly harsh, the court may declare the entire trans
action to be unconscionable. If so, the supplier cannot
enforce the contract but you may sue him if you have
suffered any loss.

g from a

action |

An example might be an elderly consumer who has
literally been badgered into a long-term contract. Another
possible situation may be, where you are led to believe you

_ are renting a colour T.V., but in fact you are committed

to buy the set from the start.

These are only a few examples of the type of
selling tactics and other misleading practices that are the
target of the Trade Practices Act. To help you the Act.
lists examples covering a broad range of deceptive acts
or unfair schemes.

Who's in charge?

A Director of Trade Practices will be appointed to
handle consumer complaints and investigate possible
wrong-doings by suppliers.

The director will have a number of options
available in order to settle a dispute. an

First of all, an attempt will be made to discuss the
matter with both sides and amicably resolve the matter.

\ We're confident the great majority of cases can be handled
his way. :
‘ “t it appears the law has been broken, the director
can ask the supplier to sign an agreement promising to.
abide by the Act and, for example, give the consumer back
any money lost in the transaction.

; If the supplier refuses, the director can ask the

courts to settle the matter quickly and fairly.

Putting anend —
to caveat emptor .

“Let the buyer beware” is a saying that’s thousands
of years old and the Department of Consumer Services will
do everything possible to help you become aware of a
deceptive and unconscionable practices so that you wi
know when someone is trying to take advantage of you.

Service Centres will be opened at several locations
in the province to receive and act on complaints. The
centres will be staffed by counsellors, researchers, tie
investigators, specialists when neces nc yaaa #
all ready to help you. They'll be located in areas : ae you
shop, close to public transportation and equipped with
library/resource facilities.

Get in on the act.

One of the most mp ranyepure of the Act is
it mé it eas ourself.
ae aes it ea Tee habs for the unwary, loopholes
and common abuses to watch for and what ms can'do
about them... and there is a lot you can dor: ex nay
pursue a complaint on your own, and if hee Y. go ¢
court on it. You can ask the judge to ele 5 i egal
practice and to help other consumers In a Buen ¢
yourself who may have lost money due to the same
se Dee ee all you can about the Act and don't forget
to use the valuable services of aca like the
~ Consumers’ Association of Canada, Better ess
Bureaus, the newspaper hegpcclns as well as
Deparspent Oe manhes and honest businesses
can stand up for their rights. With the help of ; the Arete
Practices Act you've got what it takes to get yourse
a Serer interested in learning more about the Act
just write to the Department of Consumer Banvices in
Victoria, B.C. Be sure to specify whether sont oe
consumer or business ‘so you'll get the pamphlet tha

concerns you most.

cc British Columbia Department of

HAROLD PRITCHETT, leading
B.C. Communist and candidate in
Fraser Valley West, was rushed to
Royal Columbian Hospital last
Friday evening where he
underwent an emergency
operation to correct “ballooning”
on an artery leading to the heart.
At press time he was much
improved but under intensive
care. The PT and its readers send
best wishes to Harold for a speedy
and full recovery.

Labor hails
civil rights
decision

B.C. Federation of Labor
secretary-treasurer Len Guy last
week hailed a decision by the B.C.
Human Rights Commission as ‘‘a
milestone in the fight for equal
employment opportunities for
women workers.” ;

In a press release the labor
federation said that on April 16
Linda Arksey of. Surrey started
working on the green chain at the
large CANFOR plywood mill in
New Westminster. At the end of
her shift on April 17 the foreman
fired her saying ‘this is no place for
a woman and I don’t want you to
get muscles like a man.’ She was
the first woman to work on that
green chain in 26 years.

Ms. Arksey filed a complaint
with the Human Rights Director
alleging CANFOR refused to
continue to employ her because of
her sex. The Human Rights
Commission hearing was held on
July 3 and heard evidence from the
IWA plant committee, and a
member from the BCFL Women’s
Committee. Presenting the case on
behalf of Ms. Arksey and the IWA
was Carolyn Gibbons, legislative
director of the B.C. Federation of
Labor.

On July 4 the Commission found
CANFOR in violation of the Human
Rights Act and ordered full rein-
statement with pay. In
congratulating Ms. Arksey on her
successful fight for her rights and
Local 1-357 and the IWA plant
committee, the BCFL said, ‘“‘this
decision can be considered a
milestone in our continuing fight
for equal employment op-
portunities for women. Our
Federation will continue this fight
until genuine equality of em-
ployment opportunity exists
throughout industry in B.C.”
ANNOUNCEMENT

In keeping with previous years,
the Pacific Tribune will appear as
an 8-page paper during the

GE Bova VICES
7 =  — CONSUMER SER remainder of July and throughout
.

a oe The Honourable PhlisYouna, Minister : August. With our Labor Day
< . edition we will return to our
« regular 12-page paper.
Because the Canadian Tribune.
published late this week the
national pages do not appear in this
a issue.
On this page also, the PT carries
the second advertisement from the
- : B.C. government since our fight for
$e ; : equal treatment with other
. weeklies. Be iad {

oo be Sd
PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1974-PAGE 3