Who qualifies as a consumer under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993?

A natural person acquiring goods for household use qualifies as a consumer under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. The Act is designed to protect individuals who buy goods and services for personal, domestic, or household use, ensuring that they receive guarantees about the quality and performance of the products they purchase. This protection arises because consumers typically do not have the same level of knowledge or bargaining power as businesses, making them more vulnerable to faulty goods or poor services.

The other scenarios present cases that fall outside this definition of a consumer. For example, purchasing goods for commercial purposes implies that the buyer intends to use them in a business context, which does not align with the consumer-focused protections of the Act. Similarly, a business purchasing services for manufacturing is again in the realm of commercial transactions, distancing itself from the individual consumer context aimed at by the legislation. Finally, a vendor resupplying goods in trade implies an intention to sell those goods rather than use them for personal or household purposes, thus not qualifying as a consumer under the Act.