HOME ECONOMICS

YEAR 9
CONSUMER CHALLENGES AND RIGHTS

CONSUMER
A consumer is a person who purchases and
makes use of goods and services to satisfy
personal or household needs. Consumer
activities involve the ability to choose, buy,
and use goods and services in a rational,
intelligent and efficient way.

Goods are objects such as food, clothes,

television books, washing machine,
table,etc.

Services are work performed by one person

for another, examples are hair cut or
dressing, medical services, sewing a dress
for someone, dental care, etc.
RIGHTS OF THE CONSUMER
1. Right to safety: It is right to be
protected against the marketing of
goods and services, which are
hazardous to life and property. The
purchased goods and services availed
of should not only meet their immediate
needs, but also fulfil long term interests.
Before purchasing, consumers should
insist on the quality of the products as
well as on the guarantee of the products
and services.

2. Right to choose : This is the right

to be assured, wherever possible of
access to variety of goods and services
at competitive price. In case of
monopolies, it means right to be
assured of satisfactory quality and
service at a fair price. It also includes
right to basic goods and services.

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 3. Right to be informed :This is the
right to be informed about the quality,
quantity, potency, purity, standard and
price of goods so as to protect the
consumer against unfair trade practices.
Consumer should insist on getting all
the information about the product or
service before making a choice or a
decision. This will enable him to act
wisely and responsibly and also enable
him to desist from falling prey to high
pressure selling techniques.

4. Right to consumer education :

This is the right to acquire the
knowledge and skill to be an informed
consumer throughout life. Ignorance of
consumers, particularly of rural
consumers, is mainly responsible for
their exploitation. They should know
their rights and must exercise them.
Only then real consumer protection can
be achieved with success.

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 5. Right to be heard :This means that
consumer's interests will receive due
consideration at appropriate forums. It
also includes right to be represented in
various forums formed to consider the
consumer's welfare.

6. Right to seek redress : This is the

right to seek redress against unfair
trade practices or unscrupulous
exploitation of consumers. It also
includes right to fair settlement of the
genuine grievances of the consumer.
Consumers must make complaint for
their genuine grievances.

CHALLENGES OF THE CONSUMER

1. Lack of information about some of

the goods and services available for
consumption.
2. Hazard of wholesome, unsafe and
poor quality products.

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 3. Activities of unscrupulous
businessmen or traders who sell
unsafe, fake or substandard goods and
services.
4. Dealers associations who practice
Monopoly and intimidate consumers.
5. Influence of massive advertisement
of goods and services.
6. Too many brands of the same
goods and services in the market. The
consumer is faced with the problem of
choosing from many goods and
services.
7. The laws that are supposed to
protect the consumers are often not
effectively enforced.
8. Many consumers lack consumer
education ( knowledge, skills and
attitudes needed to consume
intelligently).

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ASSIGNMENT

State the responsibilities of the consumer.

This assignment is to be submitted on or

before Sunday 21/06 via WhatsApp
08034336190.