What does the three-step test in section 9 involve regarding the plaintiff's experience?

The three-step test in section 9 of the New Zealand Consumer Law focuses on evaluating the reasonableness of the plaintiff's belief in relation to misleading or deceptive conduct. This assessment is crucial because it seeks to determine whether the consumer's understanding of the situation was justified based on the information available to them at the time. It places importance on how a reasonable consumer would interpret the conduct in question, thereby protecting individuals from being misled in a way that a reasonable person would not have been.

In this context, the reasonableness of belief directly impacts whether the conduct was indeed misleading or deceptive. The law aims to safeguard consumers by ensuring that businesses cannot simply claim a lack of intent to mislead if the consumer's trust in the information provided was reasonable under the circumstances. Thus, this aspect becomes vital in supporting the plaintiff's position in a claim under this law.