asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any legislation is envisaged to ensure that advertising of hire-purchase terms in respect of products does not mislead prospective purchasers as to the nett cash price of goods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hire-Purchase Advertising.
104.
Under the Hire-Purchase and Credit-Sale (Advertising) Order, 1961, a visual advertisement relating to goods offered or available for sale by hire-purchase or credit sale, which gives any indication of hire-purchase terms or credit sale terms, is required to include a statement of the price at which the goods may be purchased for cash and the hire-purchase price of credit sale price.
Is the Minister aware of the practice whereby the arrangement of the advertisement appears to give a wrong impression about the total cash price? Would the Minister agree that, while formally complying with the legislation, the impression given to the consumer looking at the advertisement is that the price is otherwise than that which is stated?
This is not so. I have not received any serious complaints about misadvertisements. The matter is legislated for very clearly. Any visual advertisement must include the information outlined in my reply.