nazarova_nb_korobova_ev_practice_in_legal_english

Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text.

Защитить потребителя, запретить нечестную торговлю, неправильная маркировка, установить стандарты, продажа вредных для здоровья товаров, дать потребителю информацию о товаре, список ингредиентов и информация о калорийности, инвалиды, иметь равный доступ, преследовать по суду от имени покупателя, остановить незаконную практику, предъявить иск от имени больших групп, приказ о прекращении деятельности, обоюдное согласие, возмещение убытков, на местном уровне, закон о правдивом меню

Answer the questions:

1.How do laws protect consumers?

2.What special commission is concerned with unfair or deceptive trade practices?

3.Why is it necessary to know the ingredients and nutrition of products?

4.What information should consumers have about the goods before deciding whether or not to buy them?

5.How are the rights of disabled people protected? Is it the same in Russia? Give your examples.

6.How does state law protect consumers?

7.Can cities have consumer protection law? What for?

8.What is “truth–in–menus” law?

9.Are there any laws that protect consumers in Russia? What laws do you know?

Read the text and answer the questions:

The Cheap Vacation Home

David and Michel Cole were reading the newspaper after dinner one night when the phone rang. A pleasant–sounding person on the other end of the line told them that people in their community had a chance to purchase brand–new vacation homes for only $15,000. The homes were located in a beautiful wooded setting just two hours by car from where the Cole family lived. In order to take advantage of this very low price, the seller said, the Coles had to make a 20% down payment. The rest of the money could be paid over the next 10 years with no interest at all.

The Coles had been thinking about buying a little place away from the city for brief weekend escapes, and this deal seemed too good

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to be true. They gave the seller their credit card number for the down payment. The seller promised to send literature about the dream home. Unfortunately, the literature never arrived. When the Coles complained to their state’s office of consumer affairs, they found that others in their community had been tricked too. Fortunately, a thorough investigation enabled authorities to locate the persons responsible for this fraudulent sales scheme.

a.What remedies could the office of consumer affairs ask for?

b.What steps could the Cole family have taken initially to avoid this problem?

c.Draft a law that would reduce the chances that this situation would happen again.

Role–play:

Situations:

1.David Cole is speaking to a pleasant–sounding person on the phone.

2.The Coles are discussing the deal.

3.The Coles are at the state’s office of consumer affairs.

Read and translate the dialogue:

People in Law Cases in Great Britain. Judges in Great Britain Narrator: The Magistrate talks about the sort of people who

come before him.

Magistrate: I would say that a very large proportion of the

Interviewer: I see.

Magistrate: They’ve never fully grown up emotionally.

Interviewer: I see.

Magistrate: And they react to a situation rather as a child would react to it. I think the overwhelming impression is that of people who really do need some help in one way or another…

Interviewer: Yes…not necessarily punishment …

Magistrate: Not necessarily punishment at all!

Interviewer: I see.

Magistrate: You see… one constantly sees in the newspapers or hears on the television and elsewhere that the people say that criminals are molly–coddled…

Interviewer: Yes… they have their…

Magistrate: which has …

Interviewer: given too soft… The treatment that is given to them is too soft, yes.

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Magistrate: Much too soft! And this is the general public reaction. Why should you spend money on these worthless people when there’re other people who also need help?

Interviewer: People who haven’t committed crimes. Magistrate: Yes, But whereas with as a nation I think we’re very

sympathetic with people who have physical disabilities.

Interviewer: I see.

Magistrate: I think we’re insufficiently concerned with those who have emotional and intellectual shortcomings.

Answer the questions:

1.What kind of people are Magistrates?

2.Why are they selected?

3.Who would judge a person who had committed a crime like murder?

4.Who selects Magistrates and what is unusual about the system?

5.What does the Magistrates on the tape talk about?

Retell the dialogue in indirect speech.

Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

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UNIT 5.

What to Do Before Buying

Read and translate the text.

Consumers can have a wide variety of problems. The following section will help you avoid some of these problems and will explain how to deal with difficulties that may arise.

Generally, making large purchases on impulse is not wise. When shopping for products or services, learn as much as possible about them before buying. Careful consumers always compare prices and products before buying. This is called comparison shopping. They purchase the product only after considering other products that could also meet their needs.

For major purchases, careful shoppers go to the library and read about competing brands in consumer publications. Your librarian can point these out to you. You should also speak with your friends to get recommendations about products.

Once you have determined what product you need, you may discover that it is available at more than one store in your community. Especially for important purchases, it makes good sense to buy from a store with a good reputation. Your local Better Business Bureau (BBB), listed in your telephone directory, can tell you if there have been complaints about a particular store. If you are making a purchase from a store that is not in your community, check with the BBB located in the same community as the seller.

Several kinds of policies may differ among stores. For some products, there may be additional charges for delivery, installation, and service. A price that seems lower at one store may really be higher once extra charges have been added on. Also check on the store’s return policy. A very low price at a store where all sales are final may not turn out to be such a good deal if you decide that you are unhappy with the product once you have it in your home. Sometimes a shopper may even spend a little more money to purchase an item from a store with an outstanding reputation for service or the ability to deliver the item quickly and install it free of charge.

Before making a purchase, you will want to read the warranty (also known as the guarantee) carefully. Different manufacturers and stores may provide different warranty coverage on very similar products. When studying the warranty, be sure to find out what you must do and what the store or manufacturer must do if you have a problem with the product. A warranty that requires you to ship a broken

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product to a faraway place for repair at your expense may not be of much value to you.

If you are required to sign a contract as part of the purchase, be sure that you read and understand the entire contract and that all blanks have been filled in before you sign. If you have trouble understanding the contract, ask the store for permission to take the contract to someone who can help you understand it before you sign it. You may not want to deal with a store that will not let you do this.

Finally, do not believe everything you hear from the seller. Later you will learn more about “puffing,” or seller’s talk. Just because a seller says “This is a real bargain!” does not make it true. You have to determine whether it is a bargain through careful shopping.

Advice

Things to Consider Before Making a Purchase

Determine exactly what product or service you need.

Compare brands. Read about various brands and ask friends for recommendations.

Compare stores. Check out a store’s reputation. Find out if there are extra charges. Learn about the store’s policy regarding exchanges or refunds.

Read and compare warranties.

Read and understand the contract.

Determine the total purchase price.

Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text.

Oсторожный покупатель, соответствовать запросам, торговые марки конкурентов, крупные покупки, определить, какой товар вам нужен, быть в наличии, дополнительные издержки, доставить неисправный товар за свой счет, гарантийные обязательства, заполнить пропуски, удачная покупка.

Answer the questions:

1.What problems can consumers have?

2.Why isn’t it wise to make large purchases on impulse?

3.Where can you get the information about the product you need before buying it?

4.How should you choose the shop?

5.What extra charges can be added on the price?

6.How do return policies differ in different stores?

7.What should you take into consideration when studying the

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warranty?

8.What can you do if you have to sign the contract, but you don’t understand some points? Why can’t you sign it if there are still some blanks?

9.Can we believe everything we hear from the seller?

Read and translate the dialogue:

Narrator: The Magistrate describes a serious case he had recently, in which it was difficult to decide what to do.

Magistrate: We had one forgery case… rather a pathetic one of um… of a woman who um… stole somebody else’s post office savings book, and took… the money. It was a difficult case…

Interviewer: She went to the post office…

Magistrate: Went to the post office and signed in somebody else’s name and got the money and was caught. Now she was a woman with several children and very considerable domestic problems, and I would say an inadequate housewife. But on the other hand she had taken this savings book from an old age pensioner. We put her on probation. She was already seriously in debt everywhere. She couldn’t possibly pay a fine. If we had sent her to prison, for example, it would have meant that all the children would have to be looked after by somebody else…

Interviewer: I see.

Magistrate: And the evidence was that within her lights – within her limits – she was a good mother and tried her best…

Interviewer: Her best with children…

Magistrate: Her best wasn’t quite good enough.

Answer the questions:

1.What exactly had the woman done? Give details?

2.What do you learn about the woman herself?

3.He could have sent her to prison or fined her. Did he?

4.What finally happened to the woman?

5.What were the reasons for this?

Retell the dialogue in indirect speech. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

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Role–play:

Situation:

1.You are a careful consumer but you friend is not. You both are going to buy a washing machine and he/she doesn’t want to spend a lot of time on it. Try to persuade him/her.

2.You failed to convince your friend to make some necessary steps before buying the washing machine. Now he/she is facing some problems. Discuss them.

Problem–solving:

You and a friend are planning a summer bicycle trip across your state. You own a very old one–speed bicycle and have decided to shop for a new one to use on this trip. List all the ways you would gather information before making this purchase.

Has your city or county passed any consumer protection laws giving you greater protection than you already had under state and federal laws? If so, what do these laws cover? How are they enforced?

Why does a smart consumer compare shops before buying a bicycle?

UNIT 6.

What to Do After Buying

Read and translate the text.

Sometimes even careful shoppers have problems. When this happens, it is important to remain calm and be persistent. Often, smart consumers can solve their own problems. When they can’t, it is very likely that an agency or organization in their community will be able to provide the needed help.

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The first thing to do after buying a product is to inspect it. If you do not receive the exact product you purchased or if some defect reduces its value to you, take it back to the seller and ask for a replacement or refund.

In addition, you should always read and follow the instructions provided and use the product only as recommended by the manufacturer. If the instructions are unclear or seem incomplete, contact the seller. Misuse of a product may be dangerous and may also cancel your legal rights! Be sure to report any problem with a product as soon as possible. Trying to fix the product yourself could cancel the warranty.

If you experience a problem with a product, you should always try to contact the seller first. All contacts should be in writing or documented in a log or journal. Reputable business people are interested in a customer’s future business, and most problems and misunderstandings can be cleared up with a face–to–face discussion or a telephone call.

Provide the seller with all the necessary information – identify the item (including model and serial number), give the date and location of purchase, describe when and how the problem arose, and explain what you want done. Be sure to bring along your sales receipt, warranty, or other pertinent information. Be polite but firm. If the seller refuses to help or gives you the runaround, send a written complaint to the owner or store manager. Mention that you will take other measures if you do not receive satisfaction within a reasonable amount of time. Be sure to date the letter and include your name, address, and a phone number where you can be reached during regular working hours. Keep a copy of the letter along with any response for your records. To complete your records, make notes about any conversations you had with the seller. Include promises made, if any, and the date of the conversation.

If the seller still refuses to help you, consider contacting the product’s manufacturer. If you don’t know the name of the manufacturer, ask your librarian for the Thomas Registry of American Manufacturers, a volume listing thousands of products and their manufacturers. If the seller is part of a chain store, consider writing to the corporate headquarters of the store. If you don’t know the address of the manufacturer or the corporate headquarters, go to your local library and look it up in Standard and Poor’s

Register of Corporations.

Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text.

Быть настойчивым, обеспечить необходимую помощь, потребовать замену товара или возврат денег, неправильное

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использование, непонятная инструкция, попытка самостоятельно отремонтировать, непонимание, связаться с продавцом, торговый чек, бизнесмены с хорошей репутацией, беседа при встрече, дата и место покупки, письменная жалоба, принять меры, штаб–квартира корпорации.

Answer the questions:

1.What is it important to do when any problem happens?

2.Who can provide the needed help if you fail to do it yourself?

3.Why should you always read and follow the instructions provided?

4.What can trying to fix the product yourself cancel?

5.What information should you provide the seller with?

6.Why is it necessary to make notes about any conversations you have with the seller?

7.What else can you do if the seller refuses to help?

ADVICE

Tips on Writing a Consumer Letter of Complaint

Include your name, address, phone number(s), and account number, if appropriate.

Be brief and to the point. Don’t be sarcastic or angry.

Include all important facts: date and place of purchase and information identifying the product (for example, model and serial number).

Explain the problem, what you have done about it, and what you want to be done.

Include copies of documents relating to your problem (for example, sales receipt). Do not send originals.

Consider sending copies to your local and state consumer protection organizations.

Keep a copy of whatever you send.

Type the letter if possible. If this is not possible, print it neatly.

Consider mailing the letter from your post office and paying the extra charge for requesting a return receipt. This receipt will be signed by the company when it receives your letter and then returned to you. If you wind up in court with your problem, the receipt is your proof that the company knew of the problem.

Many companies have consumer affairs departments, but you may get faster action by writing directly to the company

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president. State the facts clearly. Send photocopies of any important documents (such as canceled checks and past letters to the seller). Describe the problem. Explain what you’ve tried to do about it and what you want the company to do. Consider sending copies of your letter to local and state consumer protection organizations and to your local Better Business Bureau.

If you are still dissatisfied, it may be time to seek outside help. Many agencies and organizations may be able to help you. These groups are discussed in the next section. Above all, don’t give up if you feel you have a valid complaint.

Problem–solving:

Terry and Martha Tubman saw a newspaper ad for major–brand color TV sets on sale at Tally’s Radio & TV Shop. They rushed down to Tally’s, where they bought a 21–inch model for $435. Several weeks later, the TV completely lost its picture. A TV service mechanic who came to their home told them that the picture tube had blown and that repairs would cost $200. The next morning, Terry and Martha returned to the store and asked to speak to Mr. Foxx, the salesperson who had sold them the TV.

1.Role–play the meeting between the Tubmans and Mr. Foxx. What should the Tubmans say, and what should Mr. Foxx say?

2.If Mr. Foxx refuses to help, what should the Tubmans do? If they decide to write a letter of complaint, to whom should they send it? Make a checklist of information needed in the letter. Write a letter for the Tubmans.

3.What should the Tubmans do if they get no response to their letter?

ADVICE

How to Make a Complaint

Gather all the key facts. Save all important documents (such as warranties, bills, canceled checks, and repair estimates).

Give the seller a chance to correct the problem.

If this doesn’t work, contact the manufacturer of the product or the store’s headquarters (if it’s a chain).

If you still aren’t satisfied, take your complaint to a consumer protection agency, a media “action line,” or a small claims court.

You may also wish to contact an attorney at this point.

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