Consumer Protection Act No. 46 of 2012
Consumer Protection Act No. 46 of 2012
Consumer Protection Act No. 46 of 2012
NO. 46 OF 2012
NO. 46 OF 2012
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NO. 46 OF 2012
CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
[Date of assent: 13th December, 2012.]
[Date of commencement: 14th March, 2013.]
An Act of Parliament to provide for the protection of the consumer prevent
unfair trade practices in consumer transactions and to provide for matters
connected with and incidental thereto
[Act No. 46 of 2012, L.N. 50/2013, Act No. 14 of 2015, Act No. 38 of 2016.]
PART I – PRELIMINARY
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Consumer Protection Act, 2012.
2. Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“advance” means value, as prescribed, received by the borrower under a
credit agreement;
“accredited consumer organization” means society registered under the
Societies Act (Cap. 108), for the purposes of consumer protection and related
matters;
“annual percentage rate” means the annual percentage rate in respect of
a credit agreement that is determined in the prescribed manner;
“borrower” means a consumer who is or may become a party to a credit
agreement and who receives or may receive credit or a loan of money from the
other party, but does not include a guarantor;
“brokerage fee” means the payment that a borrower makes or agrees to
make to a loan broker who assists the borrower in arranging a credit agreement,
and includes an amount deducted from an advance made to the borrower that
is paid to the broker;
“Cabinet Secretary” means the Cabinet Secretary for the time being
responsible for matters relating to trade and industry;
“consumer” means—
(a) a person to whom particular goods or services are marketed in the
ordinary course of the supplier’s business;
(b) a person who has entered into a transaction with a supplier in the
ordinary course of the supplier’s business, unless the transaction
is exempt from the application of this Act;
(c) a user of particular goods or a recipient or beneficiary of particular
services, irrespective of whether that user, recipient or beneficiary
was a party to a transaction concerning the supply of those
particular goods and services; and
(d) a franchisee in terms of a franchise agreement, to the extent
applicable in terms of this Act;
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(b) does not define the total amount to be advanced to the borrower
under the agreement, although it may impose a credit limit;
“operator” means—
(a) a person who is a credit repairer or a loan broker; or
(b) a supplier who supplies such goods or services as may be
prescribed or a person who holds himself out as a supplier of such
goods or services;
“optional service” means a service that is offered to a borrower in
connection with a credit agreement and that the borrower does not have to
accept in order to enter into the agreement;
“personal development services” means—
(a) services provided for—
(i) health, fitness, diet or matters of a similar nature;
(ii) modeling and talent, including photo shoots relating to
modeling and talent, or matters of a similar nature;
(iii) martial arts, sports, dance or similar activities;
(iv) such other services as may be prescribed; and
(b) facilities provided for or instruction on the services referred to in
clause (a) and any goods that are incidentally provided in addition
to the provision of the services;
“personal information” means information other than credit information
about a consumer’s character, reputation, health, physical or personal
characteristics or mode of living or about any other matter concerning the
consumer;
“remote agreement” means a consumer agreement entered into when the
consumer and supplier are not present together;
“repairer” means a supplier who works on or repairs vehicles or other
prescribed goods;
“residual obligation lease” means a lease under which the lessor may
require the lessee at the end of the lease term to pay the lessor an amount
based in whole or in part on the difference, if any, between—
(a) the estimated wholesale value of the leased goods at the end of
the lease term; and
(b) the realizable value of the leased goods at the end of the lease
term;
“services” means anything other than goods, including any service, right,
entitlement or benefit;
“supplier” means a person who is in the business of selling, leasing or
trading in goods or services or is otherwise in the business of supplying goods or
services, and includes an agent of the supplier and a person who holds himself
out to be a supplier or an agent of the supplier;
“supplier credit agreement” means a consumer agreement, other than a
consumer agreement involving leases to which Part VIII applies, under which a
supplier or an associate of the supplier, extends fixed credit to a consumer to
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assist the consumer in obtaining goods or services, other than credit or a loan
of money, from the supplier;
“supplier creditor” means the supplier or an associate of a supplier in a
supplier credit agreement;
“time share agreement” means a consumer agreement by which a
consumer—
(a) acquires the right to use property as part of a plan that provides
for the use of the property to circulate periodically among persons
participating in the plan, whether or not the property is located in
Kenya; or
(b) is provided with access to discounts or benefits for the future
provision of transportation, accommodation or other goods or
services related to travel;
“trade-in allowance” means the greater of—
(a) the price or value of the consumer’s goods or services as set out
in a trade-in arrangement; and
(b) the market value of the consumer’s goods or services when taken
in trade under a trade-in arrangement; and
“vehicle” means a motor vehicle as defined in the Traffic Act (Cap. 403).
(2) Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to limit any right or remedy that a
consumer may have in law.
3. Interpretation and purposes of Act
(1) This Act must be interpreted in a manner that gives effect to the purposes
set out in subsection (4).
(2) When interpreting or applying this Act, a person, court or the Advisory
Committee may consider—
(a) appropriate foreign and international law; and
(b) appropriate international conventions, declarations or protocols
relating to consumer protection.
(3) If a provision of this Act requires a document to be signed or initialed by
a party to a transaction, that signing or initialing may be effected in any manner
recognized by law, including by use of an electronic signature as defined in the
Kenya Information and Communications Act (No. 2 of 1998).
(4) The purposes of this Act are to promote and advance the social and
economic welfare of consumers in Kenya by—
(a) establishing a legal framework for the achievement and maintenance
of a consumer market that is fair, accessible, efficient, sustainable and
responsible for the benefit of consumers generally;
(b) reducing and ameliorating any disadvantages experienced in
accessing any supply of goods or services by consumers;
(c) promoting fair and ethical business practices;
(d) protecting consumers from all forms and means of unconscionable,
unfair, unreasonable, unjust or otherwise improper trade practices
including deceptive, misleading, unfair or fraudulent conduct;
(e) improving consumer awareness and information and encouraging
responsible and informed consumer choice and behavior;
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6. Estimates
(1) If a consumer agreement includes an estimate, the supplier shall not charge
the consumer an amount that exceeds the estimate by more than ten per cent.
(2) If a supplier charges an amount that exceeds the estimate by more than ten
per cent, the consumer may require that the supplier provide the goods or services
at the estimated price.
(3) Nothing in this section prevents a consumer and a supplier from agreeing
to amend the estimate or price in a consumer agreement, if the consumer requires
additional or different goods or services.
7. Ambiguities
Any ambiguity that allows for more than one reasonable interpretation of
a consumer agreement provided by the supplier to the consumer or of any
information that must be disclosed under this Act shall be interpreted to the benefit
of the consumer.
8. Charging consumers for assistance
No person shall charge a consumer for assisting the consumer to obtain
any benefit, right or protection to which the consumer is entitled under this Act,
unless, before the consumer agrees to pay the charge, the person discloses the
entitlement’s existence and direct availability to the consumer and the cost, if any,
the consumer would be required to pay for the entitlement if the consumer obtained
the entitlement directly.
9. Unsolicited goods and services
(1) Except as provided in this section, a recipient of unsolicited goods or
services has no legal obligation in respect of their use or disposal.
(2) No supplier shall demand payment or make any representation that
suggests that a consumer is required to make payment in respect of any unsolicited
goods or services despite their use, receipt, misuse, loss, damage or theft unless,
if at the time of consumption the consumer reasonably believed that the goods or
services were meant for his consumption.
(3) A request for goods or services shall not be inferred solely on the basis of
payment, inaction or the passing of time.
(4) If a consumer is receiving goods or services on an ongoing or periodic basis
and there is a material change in such goods or services, the goods or services
shall be deemed to be unsolicited from the time of the material change forward
unless the supplier is able to establish that the consumer consented to the material
change.
(5) A supplier may rely on a consumer’s consent to a material change that is
made orally, in writing or by other affirmative action but the supplier shall bear the
onus of proving the consumer’s consent.
(6) If a supplier has received a payment in respect of unsolicited goods or
services, the consumer who made the payment may demand a refund of the
payment in accordance with section 80 within one year after having made the
payment.
(7) A supplier who receives a demand for a refund under subsection (6) shall
refund the payment within the prescribed period of time.
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(8) In this section, “unsolicited goods or services” means goods that are
supplied to a consumer who did not request them but does not include—
(a) goods that the recipient knows or ought to know are intended for
another person;
(b) a change to periodically supplied goods, if the change in goods is not
a material change; or
(c) goods supplied under a written future performance agreement that
provides for the periodic supply of goods to the recipient without
further solicitation; or
(d) services that are supplied to a consumer who did not request them
but does not include—
(i) services that were intended for another person from the time
the recipient knew or ought to have known that they were so
intended;
(ii) a change to ongoing or periodic services that are being
supplied, if the change in the services is not a material change;
or
(iii) services supplied under a written future performance
agreement that provides for the ongoing or periodic supply of
services to the recipient without further solicitation.
10. Consumer may commence action
A consumer who made payment under section 9(6) may commence action to
recover the payment in accordance with section 84.
11. Advertising of illegal sites
(1) No person shall advertise an internet gaming site that is operated contrary
to any written law.
(2) No person, other than an internet service provider, shall arrange for or
otherwise facilitate advertising prohibited under subsection (1) on behalf of another
person.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (1), a person advertises an internet gaming
site only if the advertising originates in Kenya or is primarily intended for Kenya
residents.
(4) For the purpose of subsection (1), “advertise” includes—
(a) providing, by print, publication, broadcast, telecommunication or
distribution by any means, information for the purpose of promoting
the use of an internet gaming site;
(b) providing a link in a website for the purpose of promoting the use of
an internet gaming site, but does not include a link generated as the
result of a search carried out by means of an internet search engine;
and
(c) entering into a sponsorship relationship for the purpose of promoting
the use of an internet gaming site.
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(b) any money payable by the supplier is payable by the trustee to the
extent that the trustee holds sufficient trust funds for that purpose.
(6) Every trustee under subsection (1) shall, upon receiving any payment from a
consumer, provide the consumer with written confirmation of receipt of the payment
and of the fact that the payment will be dealt with in accordance with sections 24
to 29 and with this section.
(7) No trustee shall release to a supplier funds received from a consumer until
the personal development services are available.
(8) The trustee shall release the funds held under this section to the
consumer if the consumer cancels the personal development services agreement
in accordance with this Act.
31. Disclosure of information on internet agreement
(1) Before a consumer enters into an internet agreement, the supplier shall
disclose the prescribed information to the consumer.
(2) The supplier shall provide the consumer with an express opportunity to
accept or decline the agreement and to correct errors immediately before entering
into it.
(3) In addition to the requirements set out in section 5, disclosure under this
section shall be accessible and shall be available in a manner that ensures that—
(a) the consumer has accessed the information; and
(b) the consumer is able to retain and print the information.
32. Copy of internet agreement
(1) A supplier shall deliver to a consumer who enters into an internet agreement
a copy of the agreement in writing within the prescribed period after the consumer
enters into the agreement.
(2) The copy of the internet agreement shall include such information as may
be prescribed.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), a supplier is considered to have
delivered a copy of the internet agreement to the consumer if the copy is delivered
in the prescribed manner.
33. Cancellation of internet agreement
(1) A consumer may cancel an internet agreement at any time from the date
the agreement is entered into until seven days after the consumer receives a copy
of the agreement if—
(a) the supplier did not disclose to the consumer the information required
under section 38(1); or
(b) the supplier did not provide to the consumer an express opportunity
to accept or decline the agreement or to correct errors immediately
before entering into it.
(2) A consumer may cancel an internet agreement within thirty days after
the date the agreement is entered into, if the supplier does not comply with a
requirement under section 43.
34. Requirements for direct agreements
Every direct agreement shall be in writing, shall be delivered to the consumer
and shall be made in accordance with the prescribed requirements.
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(4) Despite subsection (3), a repairer may charge a fee for an estimate if the
repairer is unable to obtain, without unreasonable delay, authorization to proceed
with the work or repairs and the goods are reassembled before being worked on
or repaired so that the goods can be moved in order to free repair space.
46. Authorization required
(1) No repairer shall charge for any work or repairs unless the consumer
authorizes the work or repairs.
(2) No repairer shall charge, for work or repairs for which an estimate was
given, an amount that exceeds the estimate by more than ten per cent.
47. Authorization not in writing
If an authorization required by section 44, 45 or 46 is not given in writing, the
authorization is not effective unless it is recorded in a manner that meets the
prescribed requirements.
48. Posting signs
A repairer shall post the prescribed signs in accordance with the prescribed
requirements.
49. Return of parts
(1) Every repairer shall offer to return to the consumer all parts removed in the
course of work or repairs and shall return all such parts unless advised when the
work or repairs are authorized that the consumer does not require their return.
(2) Every repairer shall keep parts removed from goods being repaired separate
from the parts removed from any other goods and, if their return is requested by
the consumer, shall return the parts in a clean container.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to—
(a) parts for which there has been no charge for the part or for work on
or repair to the part; or
(b) parts replaced under warranty whose return to the manufacturer or
distributor is required.
50. Invoice
The repairer shall, on completion of work or repairs, deliver to the consumer an
invoice containing the prescribed information in the prescribed manner.
51. Warranty for vehicles
(1) On the repair of a vehicle, every repairer shall be deemed to warrant all
new or reconditioned parts installed and the labour required to install them for a
minimum of ninety days or five thousand kilometres, whichever comes first, or for
such greater minimum as may be prescribed.
(2) The warranty in subsection (1) is in addition to the deemed and implied
conditions and warranties set out in section 5.
(3) The person having charge of a vehicle that becomes inoperable or unsafe
to drive because of the failure or inadequacy of work or repairs to which a warranty
under this section applies may, when it is not reasonable to return the vehicle to
the original repairer, have the failure or inadequacy repaired at the closest facility
available for the work or repairs.
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(4) When work or repairs are made under subsection (3), the person entitled
to a warranty under this section is entitled to recover from the original repairer the
original cost of the work or repairs and reasonable towing charges.
(5) A consumer who subjects any vehicle part to misuse or abuse is not entitled
to the benefit of the warranty on that part.
(6) No repairer shall refuse to reimburse a consumer because of the operation
of subsection (5) unless the repairer has reasonable grounds to believe that the
part under warranty was subjected to misuse or abuse.
(7) A consumer who is seeking reimbursement under this section shall return,
upon the request and at the expense of the original repairer, the defective parts
to the original repairer unless, in the circumstances, it is not reasonably possible
for the consumer to do so.
(8) An original repairer who is required to make a payment under this section
is entitled to recover from the supplier of a defective part any amount paid to the
consumer under subsection (4).
52. Consistent cost
No repairer shall give an estimate or charge an amount for work or repairs that
is greater than that usually given or charged by that repairer for the same work or
repairs merely because the cost is to be paid, directly or indirectly, by an insurance
company.
PART VII – CREDIT AGREEMENTS
53. Application of Part
(1) This Part does not apply to a supplier credit agreement that—
(a) requires the borrower to make payment in full in a single payment
within a certain period after the supplier delivers a written invoice or
statement of account to the borrower;
(b) is unconditionally interest-free during the period for payment
described in paragraph (a);
(c) does not provide for any non-interest charges;
(d) is unsecured apart from liens on the goods or services supplied
through the agreement that may arise by operation of law; and
(b) the supplier cannot assign in the ordinary course of business other
than as security.
(2) If a loan broker assists a consumer to obtain credit or a loan of money
and the creditor is not in the business of extending credit or lending money,
the obligations that this Part would impose on a lender shall be deemed to be
obligations of the loan broker and not the creditor, except as prescribed.
54. Agreement for credit card
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a consumer who applies for
a credit card without signing an application form or who receives a credit card from
a credit card issuer without applying for it shall be deemed to have entered into a
credit agreement with the issuer with respect to the card on first using the card.
(2) A consumer described in subsection (1) is not liable to pay the lender any
amount in respect of the credit card received in the circumstances described in that
subsection until the consumer uses the card.
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agreement, unless the lender has adopted the loan broker’s initial disclosure
statement as his, her or its own.
(2) The initial disclosure statement for a credit agreement for fixed credit shall
disclose the prescribed information.
(3) The initial disclosure statement for a credit agreement for open credit shall
disclose the prescribed information.
(4) If a loan broker assists in arranging a credit agreement, the initial disclosure
statement shall disclose the prescribed information.
66. Subsequent disclosure on fixed credit
(1) If the interest rate in a credit agreement for fixed credit is a floating rate, the
lender shall, at least once every twelve months after entering into the agreement,
deliver to the borrower a disclosure statement for the period covered by the
statement disclosing the prescribed information.
(2) If the interest rate in a credit agreement for fixed credit is not a floating rate
and the agreement allows the lender to change the interest rate, the lender shall,
within thirty days after increasing the annual interest rate to a rate that is at least
1 per cent higher than the rate most recently disclosed to the borrower, deliver to
the borrower a disclosure statement disclosing the prescribed information.
(3) The lender shall deliver to the borrower notice if the amount of the borrower’s
scheduled payments required by a credit agreement for fixed credit is no longer
sufficient to cover the interest accrued under the agreement because the principal
set out in the agreement has increased as a result of default charges or the failure
of the borrower to make payments under the agreement.
(4) The notice under subsection (3) shall be in writing, shall disclose the
situation and shall be delivered within thirty days after the point when the amount
of the scheduled payments is no longer sufficient to cover the accrued interest.
(5) Subject to subsection (6), if the parties have agreed to amend a credit
agreement for fixed credit and the amendment changes any of the information
prescribed under subsection (2), the lender shall, within thirty days after the
amendment is made, deliver to the borrower a supplementary disclosure statement
setting out the changed information.
(6) If an amendment to a credit agreement consists only of a change in
the schedule of required payments by the borrower, it is not necessary for
the supplementary disclosure statement to disclose any change to the annual
percentage rate or any decrease in the total required payments by the borrower or
the total cost of borrowing under the agreement.
67. Subsequent disclosure on open credit
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the lender under a credit agreement for open
credit shall deliver a statement of account to the borrower at least once monthly
after entering into the agreement.
(2) The lender is not required to deliver a statement of account to the borrower
at the end of any period when, since the most recent statement of account, the
borrower has received no advances and made no payments under the agreement
and—
(a) at the end of the period the outstanding balance payable by the
borrower under the agreement is zero; or
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(b) the borrower is in default and has been notified that the lender has
cancelled or suspended his or her right to obtain advances under the
agreement and has demanded payment of the outstanding balance.
(3) The lender shall provide to the borrower a telephone number at which
the borrower can make inquiries about the borrower’s account during the lender’s
ordinary business hours without incurring any charges for the telephone call.
(4) A statement of account for a credit agreement for open credit shall disclose
the prescribed information.
(5) A lender under a credit agreement for open credit who, pursuant to
the agreement, changes the interest rate under the agreement shall deliver a
disclosure statement to the borrower disclosing the change—
(a) in the next statement of account after the change, in the case of a
credit agreement that is not for a credit card; and
(b) at least thirty days before the change, in the case of a credit
agreement that is for a credit card where the interest rate is not a
floating rate.
(6) Subject to subsection (7), if the parties have agreed to amend a credit
agreement for open credit and the amendment changes any of the information
prescribed under subsection (4), the lender shall, within thirty days after the
amendment is made, deliver to the borrower a supplementary disclosure statement
setting out the changed information.
(7) If the parties have agreed to amend a credit agreement for open credit
in respect of a credit card and the amendment changes any of the information
prescribed under section 65(3), the lender shall deliver to the borrower a
supplementary disclosure statement setting out the changed information—
(a) within thirty days after the amendment is made, if the change is not a
material change, as prescribed; and
(b) at least thirty days before the amendment is made, if the change is a
material change, as prescribed.
68. Assignment of negotiable instrument
(1) If a person assigns a negotiable instrument given to secure credit or a loan
of money, the person shall deliver to the assignee with the negotiable instrument a
copy of the statement required by section 65 and, if the person is a supplier creditor,
a copy of the consumer agreement for the goods or services that were obtained
with the fixed credit.
(2) Every assignee of a negotiable instrument who reassigns the instrument
shall deliver to the person to whom the instrument is being reassigned the
statement and the consumer agreement, if any, received by the assignee in respect
of the instrument.
(3) If an assignee of a negotiable instrument to which subsection (2) applies
is entitled to recover on the instrument from the maker, the maker is entitled
to be indemnified by any assignor of the instrument who has not complied with
subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be.
69. Obligations of assignee of lender
(1) If a lender assigns to a person the lender’s rights in connection with the
extension of credit or the lending of money to a borrower, the assignee has no
greater rights than, and is subject to the same obligations, liabilities and duties as,
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the assignor in connection with the extension of the credit or the lending of the
money, and the provisions of this Act apply equally to such assignee.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a borrower shall not recover from, or be entitled
to set off against, an assignee of the lender an amount greater than the balance
owing under the consumer agreement at the time of the assignment, and, if there
have been two or more assignments, the borrower shall not recover from an
assignee who no longer holds the benefit of the consumer agreement an amount
that exceeds the payments made by the borrower to that assignee.
70. Order to pay indemnity
(1) If an assignor of a negotiable instrument is convicted of a contravention
of section 65, the High Court making the conviction may order that the person
convicted is liable to indemnify the maker.
(2) If an indemnity order is made under subsection (1) in favor of a person who
is or becomes liable under a judgment of a court to an assignee of the negotiable
instrument in respect of which the indemnity order was made, the person entitled
to the indemnity may file the indemnity order in the court office of the court in which
the judgment was issued.
(3) Upon the filing of the indemnity order, the local registrar or clerk of the court
shall issue a default judgment in favor of the person entitled to the indemnity and
against the person required by the indemnity order to give the indemnity, and the
amount of the default judgment shall be the amount of the judgment referred to in
subsection (1) and costs together with the costs of issuing the default judgment, or
such lesser amount as the person entitled to the indemnity by requisition requests.
(4) Upon application, the court in which the default judgment is issued may
set aside the default judgment or may determine the amount of the indemnity or
make an order of reference for the purpose and may vary the amount of the default
judgment.
71. Allowance for trade-in subject to adjustment
(1) If the amount to be paid by a consumer under a consumer agreement
is determined after an allowance for a trade-in and is stated in the consumer
agreement to be subject to adjustment after the existence or amount of liens
against the trade-in is ascertained or confirmed, any statements of the terms of
payment and the cost of borrowing, as required under this Act, shall be based upon
the amount as determined upon the information provided by the consumer.
(2) If there is an additional adjustment to the amount to be paid by a consumer
under a consumer agreement to which subsection (1) applies after the adjustment
under subsection (1), the consumer agreement shall not be adjusted to change—
(a) the percentage rate by which the cost of borrowing is expressed;
(b) the total number of installments required to pay the total indebtedness;
or
(c) the price shown in the consumer agreement.
PART VIII – LEASING
72. Application of Part
This Part applies to—
(a) leases for a fixed term of four months or more;
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(b) leases for an indefinite term or that are renewed automatically until
one of the parties takes positive steps to terminate them; and
(c) residual obligation leases.
73. Representations
(1) Any person who makes representations or causes representations to be
made about the cost of a lease, whether orally, in writing or in any other form, shall
do so in accordance with the prescribed requirements.
(2) Every lessor shall deliver a disclosure statement for a lease to the lessee
before the earlier of—
(a) the time that the lessee enters into the lease; and
(b) the time that the lessee makes any payment in connection with the
lease.
(3) The disclosure statement for a lease shall disclose the prescribed
information.
74. Disclosure statement
(1) The maximum amount of compensation that may be charged to a lessee by
a lessor for termination of a lease before the end of the lease term may be limited
as prescribed.
(2) The maximum liability of the lessee at the end of the term of a residual
obligation lease after returning the leased goods to the lessor shall be the amount
calculated in the prescribed manner.
PART IX – PROCEDURES FOR CONSUMER REMEDIES
75. Application of Part
This Part does not apply to remedies claimed in respect to unfair practices under
Part III.
76. Form of consumer notice
(1) If this Act requires a consumer to give notice to a supplier to request a
remedy, the consumer may do so by giving notice in accordance with this section.
(2) The notice may be expressed in any way, as long as it indicates the
intention of the consumer to seek the remedy being requested and complies with
any requirements that may be prescribed.
(3) Unless the regulations require otherwise, the notice may be oral or in writing
and may be given by any means.
(4) If notice in writing is given other than by personal service, the notice shall
be deemed to be given when sent.
(5) The consumer may send or deliver the notice to the address set out in
a consumer agreement or, if the consumer did not receive a written copy of a
consumer agreement or the address was not set out in the written agreement, the
consumer may send or deliver the notice—
(a) to any address of the supplier on record; or
(b) to an address of the supplier known by the consumer.
77. Consumer agreements not binding
(1) A consumer agreement is not binding on the consumer unless the
agreement is made in accordance with this Act and the Regulations.
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(2) Despite subsection (1), a court may order that a consumer is bound by all
or a portion or portions of a consumer agreement, even if the agreement has not
been made in accordance with this Act or the Regulations, if the court determines
that it would be inequitable in the circumstances for the consumer not to be bound.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to those agreements made
before the coming into force of this section.
78. Cancellation of consumer agreement
(1) If a consumer has a right to cancel a consumer agreement under this Act, the
consumer may cancel the agreement by giving notice in accordance with section
76.
(2) The cancellation takes effect when the consumer gives notice.
79. Effect of cancellation
(1) The cancellation of a consumer agreement in accordance with this Act
operates to cancel, as if they never existed—
(a) the consumer agreement;
(b) all related agreements;
(c) all guarantees given in respect of money payable under the consumer
agreement;
(d) all security given by the consumer or a guarantor in respect of money
payable under the consumer agreement; and
(e) all credit agreements, as defined in Part VII, and other payment
instruments, including promissory notes—
(i) extended arranged or facilitated by the person with whom the
consumer reached the consumer agreement; or
(ii) otherwise related to the consumer agreement.
(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply to those agreements made
before the coming into force of this section.
80. Obligations on cancellation
(1) If a consumer cancels a consumer agreement, the supplier shall, unless
the contrary is provided for in the agreement, in accordance with the prescribed
requirements—
(a) refund to the consumer any payment made under the agreement or
any related agreement; and
(b) return to the consumer in a condition substantially similar to when they
were delivered all goods delivered under a trade-in arrangement or
refund to the consumer an amount equal to the trade- in allowance.
(2) Upon canceling a consumer agreement, the consumer, in accordance
with the prescribed requirements and in the prescribed manner, shall permit the
goods that came into the consumer’s possession under the agreement or a related
agreement to be repossessed, shall return the goods or shall deal with them in
such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) If a consumer cancels a consumer agreement, the consumer shall take
reasonable care of the goods that came into the possession of the consumer under
the agreement or a related agreement for the prescribed period.
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(4) The consumer owes the obligation described in subsection (3) to the person
entitled to possession of the goods at the time in question.
(5) Compliance with this section discharges the consumer from all obligations
relating to the goods and the consumer is under no other obligation, whether arising
by contract or otherwise, to take care of the goods.
(6) If a consumer has cancelled a consumer agreement and the supplier has not
met the supplier’s obligations under subsection (1), the consumer may commence
an action.
(7) If a consumer has cancelled a consumer agreement and has not met the
consumer’s obligations under this section, the supplier or the person to whom the
obligation is owed may commence an action.
81. Title to goods under trade-in payments
If the consumer recovers an amount equal to the trade-in allowance under
section 71(1) and the title of the consumer to the goods delivered under the trade-
in arrangement has not passed from the consumer, the title to the goods vests in
the person entitled to the goods under the trade-in arrangement.
82. Illegal charges and payments
(1) If a supplier has charged a fee or an amount in contravention of this Act or
received a payment in contravention of this Act, the consumer who paid the charge
or made the payment may demand a refund by giving notice in accordance with
section 76 within one year after paying the charge or making the payment.
(2) A supplier who receives a notice demanding a refund under subsection (1)
shall provide the refund within the prescribed period of time.
(3) The consumer may commence an action in accordance with section 84 to
recover—
(a) the payment of a fee or an amount that was charged by the supplier
in contravention of this Act; or
(b) a payment that was received by the supplier in contravention of this
Act.
(4) This section and section 76 apply, with the necessary modifications, to a
person who is not a supplier, if the person has received a payment in contravention
of section 8.
83. Consumer’s recourse on credit card charges
(1) A consumer who has charged to a credit card account all or any part of a
payment described in subsection (2) may request the credit card issuer to cancel
or reverse the credit card charge and any associated interest or other charges.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to—
(a) a payment in respect of a consumer agreement that has been
cancelled under this Act or in respect of any related agreement;
(b) a payment that was received in contravention of this Act;
(c) a payment in respect of a fee or an amount that was charged in
contravention of this Act; and
(d) a payment that was collected in respect of unsolicited goods or
services for which payment is not required under section 9.
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(3) A consumer may make a request under subsection (1) if the consumer has
cancelled a consumer agreement or demanded a refund in accordance with this
Act, and the supplier has not refunded all of the payment within the required period.
(4) A request under subsection (1) shall be in writing, shall comply with the
requirements that are prescribed under section 76(2), and shall be given to the
credit card issuer, in the prescribed period, in accordance with section 76.
(5) The credit card issuer—
(a) shall, within the prescribed period, acknowledge the consumer’s
request; and
(b) if the request meets the requirements of subsection (4), shall, within
the prescribed period—
(i) cancel or reverse the credit card charge and any associated
interest or other charges; or
(ii) after having conducted an investigation, send a written notice to
the consumer explaining the reasons why the credit card issuer
is of the opinion that the consumer is not entitled to cancel the
consumer agreement or to demand a refund under this Act.
(6) A consumer may commence an action against a credit card issuer to recover
a payment and associated interest and other charges to which the consumer is
entitled under this section.
(7) If a consumer charges all or part of a payment described in subsection (2)
to a prescribed payment system, the consumer may request that the charge be
cancelled or reversed and this section applies with necessary modifications to the
cancellation or reversal of such a charge.
84. Action in Court
(1) If a consumer has a right to commence an action under this Act, the
consumer may commence the action in the appropriate Court.
(2) If a consumer is successful in an action, unless in the circumstances it would
be inequitable to do so, the court shall order that the consumer recover—
(a) the full payment to which he or she is entitled under this Act; and
(b) all goods delivered under a trade-in arrangement or an amount equal
to the trade-in allowance.
(3) In addition to an order under subsection (2), the court may order exemplary
or punitive damages or such other relief as the court considers proper.
85. Waiver of notice
If a consumer is required to give notice under this Act in order to obtain a remedy,
a court may disregard the requirement to give the notice or any requirement relating
to the notice if it is in the interest of justice to do so.
86. Confidentiality
(1) A person who obtains information in the course of exercising a power or
carrying out a duty related to the administration of this Act or the Regulations shall
preserve secrecy with respect to the information and shall not communicate the
information to any person except—
(a) as may be required in connection with a proceeding under this Act or
in connection with the administration of this Act or the Regulations;
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