Consumer Protection

1. Read and learn the following words and word combinations:

survival [sə΄vaivəl] – виживання;

shelter – притулок;

pleasure [΄pleʒə] – задоволення, насолода;

snack [snæk] – легка закуска;

bill – рахунок;

buying decisions – рішення про купівлю;

to lead [li:d] – вести;

to expand efforts – тут: докладати зусиль;

failure [΄feiljə] – провал, невдача, банкрутство;

to guide [΄gaid] – вести, керувати, спрямовувати;

to enjoy [in΄dʒoi] – зазнавати втіхи (насолоди), тішитися; користуватися;

to complain [kəm΄plein] – нарікати, скаржитися;

to cheat [t∫i:t] – обманювати, дурити, шахраювати;

offending [ə΄fendiη] – злочинний, винний у порушенні;

consumer movement – рух на захист споживачів;

unfair [΄Λn΄fεə] - несправедливий, сумнівний;

to declare [di΄klεə] – оголошувати, заявляти;

to make a choice – робити вибір;

safety –безпека, надійність;

to protect – захищати;

harmful – шкідливий, згубний, небезпечний;

to assure - запевняти, переконувати;

availability [ə΄veiləbiliti] – наявність, придатність;

variety [və΄raiəti] – різноманітність, багатобічність;

at competitive [kəm΄petitiv] prices – за конкурентоспроможними цінами;

to consider [kən΄sidə] – розглядати, брати до уваги;

to enforce [in΄fo:s] – тут: втілювати в життя; підкріпляти;

remedy – тут: відшкодування;

assurance [ə΄∫uərəns] - упевненість, гарантія;

legal correction – правове врегулювання;

wrongs – помилковість, зло, правопорушення;

to commit – вчиняти,чинити;

responsibility [ris¸ponsə΄biliti] – відповідальність;

to underline [¸Λndə΄lain] – підкреслювати, наголошувати;

consumer rights – захист прав споживача;

in case – у випадку;

to violate [΄vaiəleit] – порушувати;

to guarantee [¸gærən΄ti:] – гарантувати, забезпечувати;

quantity [΄kwontiti] – кількість;

manufacturer [¸mænju΄fækt∫ərə] – фабрикант, підприємець, промисловець;

court [ko:t] – суд;

appropriate [ə΄proupriit] state agency – відповідна державна установа;

consumer union – об’єднання (спілка) споживачів.

2. Read and translate the text: Consumer Protection

A consumer is a person who buys and uses goods or services to satisfy his or her needs (things that are necessary for survival, such as food, clothing, and shelter) and wants (things which are not necessary for survival, but which add pleasure and comfort to our lives). We all are consumers. We buy products and services every day. We buy snacks, clothing, books, pay bills, etc. As consumers, we are very important to business and the economy. The buying decisions we make can lead to either success or failure of many businesses. Consumers’ wants and needs guide business practices. As a result, businesses expand great efforts to attract and pleasure consumers.

However, the rather pleasant relationship that is enjoyed by businesses and consumers now was not always so. Consumers were often cheated in many ways and there was nowhere to complain about the offending businesses. It was not until the middle of the 20^th century that consumer movements to fight against unfair business practices started in America. In 1962 Consumer Bill of Rights was presented to Congress. Later on two more rights were added to the original four. They declared that every consumer had the following rights:

• the right to be informed – to be given the correct information needed to make a choice;

• the right to safety – to be protected from harmful goods and services;

• the right to choose – to be assured of the availability of a variety of goods and services at competitive prices;

• the right to be heard – to be assured that consumer interests will be fully considered by government when laws are being developed and enforced.

• the right to a remedy – the assurance of the right to legal correction of wrongs committed against consumers;

• the right to consumer education – to learn about consumer rights and responsibilities as economic citizens.

These rights underline many other countries’ consumer rights protection policies, Ukraine included, where there are eight following rights, basically covering the same points. In Ukraine every consumer has the right to:

1. state protection in case their consumer rights being violated;

2. guarantee the level of consumption;

3. the proper quality of goods and services;

4. safety of goods and services;

5. be given the true information about the goods and services, their quality, quantity, variety and the manufacturer (the employee of the business, the salesperson);

6. a remedy or legal correction of wrongs committed to consumers through goods or services;

7. be heard in the court or other appropriate state agencies in case your consumer rights being violated;

8. unite into consumer unions.