Matters the Commission does not deal with, but frequently receives enquiries about, are set out here, with information on who else may be able to help you.
Advertising Standards
For enquiries about advertising standards please contact the Advertising Standards Authority ph. 04 472 7852 www.asa.co.nz
Banking services complaints
The Banking Ombudsman provides free, independent and impartial dispute resolution services for complaints about banking services by participating banks. The Banking Ombudsman can be contacted at:
PO Box 10 573
The Terrace
Wellington
Freephone: 0800 805 950
Tel: 64 4 471 0006
Fax: 64 4 471 0548
Homepage: http://www.bankombudsman.org.nz/publications.html
Email: help@bankombudsman.org.nz
Business Opening Hours on Public Holidays
For information about business opening hours on public holidays please contact the Employment Relations Information Line ph 0800 800 863 www.ers.dol.govt.nz
Companies information
For information on whether a company is registered, or to register a company, contact the New Zealand Companies Office ph 0508 266 726 www.companies.govt.nz
The Commission cannot advise on whether a company is legitimate. We can only tell you whether we have taken action against a company before.
The Commission does not disclose the number or nature of complaints received about a company to enquirers. The reason for this is that many of the complaints that we receive are unsubstantiated. However, you may still be able to gather information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Please email any OIA requests to contact@comcom.govt.nz, including a daytime phone number and address. OIA requests may incur a cost.
Consumer Guarantees Act
For information on the Consumer Guarantees Act, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs can be contacted at:
PO Box 1473
Wellington
Tel: 64.4 474 2750
Fax: 64 4 473 9400
Homepage: www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz
Electricity and gas service complaints
For an independent dispute resolution service for complaints you may have about your electricity and gas lines or your electricity and gas retail company in New Zealand, contact the Electricity and Gas Complaints Commission ph. 0800 22 33 40
http://www.egcomplaints.co.nz/
Employment disputes
For employment disputes please contact the Employment Relations Information Line ph. 0800 800 863 www.ers.dol.govt.nz
Endorsement of advertisements or business practices
The Commission does not endorse or advise traders on how to ensure their advertising or practices comply with the Fair Trading Act. Please refer to our website The Fair Trading Act: A General Guide [link to come] or seek legal advice.
Faulty or unsuitable goods or services
For advice about faulty or unsuitable goods or services, contact the Citizens Advice Bureau ph. 0800 367 222 www.cab.org.nz or visit the Ministry of Consumer Affairs website www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz
Food Standards
For enquiries about food standards, contact Food Standards Australia New Zealand ph 04 473 9942 www.foodstandards.govt.nz
Health Products
For enquiries about health products please contact Medsafe ph 04 496 2000 www.medsafe.govt.nz
Importing and exporting regulations
For all enquiries about importing and exporting regulations, contact New Zealand Customs ph 0800 428 786 www.customs.govt.nz
Insurance and savings complaints
The Insurance and Savings Ombudsman provides a free, independent and impartial disputes resolution service to customers with complaints against insurance and savings organisations who are participants in the Insurance and Savings Ombudsman Scheme.
The Insurance and Savings Ombudsman can be contacted at:
PO Box 10 845
Wellington
Freephone: 0800 888 202
Tel: 64 4 499 7612
Fax: 64 4 499 7614
Homepage: www.iombudsman.org.nz
Email: info@iombudsman.org.nz
Information on petrol prices
For information on petrol prices, refer to the Ministry of Economic Development www.med.govt.nz
Information on registered motor vehicle traders
For information about whether a motor vehicle trader is registered, and information about the trader’s business, including its physical address, refer to the Motor
Vehicle Traders Register www.motortraders.med.govt.nz
Scams
For information about specific types of financial scams from overseas sources, refer to the scamwatch section of the Ministry of Consumer Affair’s website www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/scamwatch/
Telecommunication Dispute Resolution (TDR) service
TDR is a free and independent service to help work out disputes between consumers and telecommunication companies. It costs nothing for a consumer to use the service. Complaints need to be made to the telecommunications company first. TDR can only consider complaints about events that happened after 30 November 2007. Contact TDR by phone on 0508 98 98 98, email contact@tdr.org.nz or via their website www.tdr.org.nz/