- National consumer agency
The National Consumer Agency (NCA) is a statutory body that defends consumer interests in the
Republic of Ireland .Background
The NCA's origins can be traced to the setting up of the Consumer Strategy Group (CSG) in March 2004 [ [http://www.forfas.ie/publications/show/pub70.html Forfas Press Release] ] .
The CSG presented its report, [http://www.entemp.ie/publications/commerce/2005/consumerstrategy.pdf “Making Consumers Count”] , to the then
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland) ,Micheál Martin , in April 2005. Among the report's key recommendations was the establishment of a new agency to champion consumer rights.The NCA was set up on an interim basis in May 2005, and established on a statutory footing on May 1, 2007 [ [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/consumer-affairs/consumer-protection/consumer-rights/consumer-protection-act-2007 Consumer Protection Act 2007-Information from CitizensInformation.ie ] ] .
The NCA's campaigns to date include naming and shaming retailers who are caught breaking consumer law, preventing car dealers "clocking" second-hand cars (altering vehicles' odometers), and intervention in high-profile consumer disputes including ones with
NTL Ireland ,Aer Lingus [ [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0418/breaking50.htm Article in The Irish Times] ] and MCD Promoters [ [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0717/streisandb.html RTE article on MCD case] .] These interventions resulted in speedy and satisfactory resolutions to the benefit of consumers.The agency has also carried out a series of price comparison surveys between leading supermarket chains, and cross-border comparisons of grocery items in stores' branches in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
On 2 September 2008 the agency published draft guidelines for the retail sector about how they should advertise price reductions, and related matters such as how long an item needs to be on sale at a higher price before advertising it with a reduced price comparison.
ConsumerProperty.ie
In late September 2008 the National Consumer Agency launched a guide and a dedicated website [ [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/property/2008/0925/1222207740610.html Article in The Irish Times about the launch] ] [ [http://www.sundaybusinesspost.com/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=MONEY-qqqm=nav-qqqid=36212-qqqx=1.asp Article in the Sunday Business Post] ] , [http://www.ConsumerProperty.ie ConsumerProperty.ie] , for people living in or planning on buying multi-unit dwellings. The website and guide are full of information and handy tips on consumers' rights and responsibilities if living in
apartment s.The guide, [http://www.consumerproperty.ie/downloads/downloads.html "Buying and Living in a Multi-Unit Development Property"] in Ireland, which is available in booklet format or as a download from the website, is a fully comprehensive information resource.
It contains information on
legal terms ,Property management companies and agents, service charges, sinking funds, the function of developers,snagging ,insurance andfire safety .References
* [http://www.entemp.ie/commerce/consumer/nca.htm Irish Government's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment]
* [http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10009958.shtml Article one about establishment of National Consumer Agency]
* [http://www.entemp.ie/press/2007/20070501.htm Article two about establishment of National Consumer Agency]
* [http://www.entemp.ie/publications/commerce/2007/consumerprotectionact2007.pdf Consumer Protection Act 2007]External links
* [http://www.consumerconnect.ie ConsumerConnect.ie] – the NCA’s website for consumers
* [http://www.nca.ie NCA.ie] – the NCA’s corporate site, aimed more at businesses (explaining consumer legislation and their obligations to consumers), plus researchers and the media
* [http://www.consumerproperty.ie ConsumerProperty.ie] - the NCA's site about buying an apartment or house in a multi-unit development in Ireland - find out more about the issues and get tips and resources[Category:Ireland] [CategoryState:sponsored bodies of the Republic of Ireland]
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