Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Fair Trading Act 1986

Consumer information

28B: Disclosure of trader status on Internet

You could also call this:

“Businesses selling online must tell you they're a business”

When someone offers to sell goods or services on the Internet, and you can buy them online, there are some rules they need to follow. If the seller is a business (called a ‘trader’), they must make it clear to you that they are a business. This is so you know you’re not buying from another regular person.

Sometimes, a website or app might help connect buyers and sellers, like an online auction. Even if they’re not the ones selling the item, they need to take reasonable steps to make sure the seller tells you if they’re a business.

This rule helps you know who you’re buying from when you shop online. It’s important because buying from a business might give you different rights than buying from another person.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6156617.

Topics:
Business > Fair trading
Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection
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Part 2 Consumer information

28BDisclosure of trader status on Internet

  1. This section applies when—

  2. goods or services are offered for sale to consumers on the Internet; and
    1. the offer is able to be accepted via the Internet.

      1. If the vendor of the goods or services is in trade, the person making the offer must make it clear to potential purchasers that the vendor is a person in trade.

      2. If the offer and any resulting sale are managed by an intermediary that is not party to the sale (such as an intermediary that operates an online bidding process), the intermediary must take reasonable steps to ensure that the person offering the goods or services for sale complies with subsection (2).

      Notes
      • Section 28B: inserted, on , by section 17 of the Fair Trading Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 143).