What can consumers do if misled by advertising?

Consumers misled by advertising have the right to take action to seek redress, and one of the most effective steps is to file a complaint with the Commerce Commission. The Commerce Commission is the regulatory body in New Zealand responsible for enforcing consumer law, including the Fair Trading Act. This act prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct in trade, which encompasses false advertising. By filing a complaint, consumers enable the Commission to investigate the misleading practices and take necessary actions, which may involve formal enforcement measures against the offending party.

This process helps to uphold consumer rights and maintain fair trading practices in the marketplace. It also allows for a structured approach to address grievances rather than pursuing individual disputes independently.

Seeking legal action without prior steps could be hasty and may not take full advantage of the regulatory framework designed to handle such issues, while contacting the media might not directly resolve the grievance. Accepting the loss without complaint would not help rectify the situation or prevent future occurrences of misleading advertising.