asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the representatives of hire-purchase companies are canvassing the various Dublin housing areas and are attempting to induce housewives to take goods without reference to their husbands and without having to pay any deposits; and if he is satisfied that the existing regulations in respect of the protection of persons covered by hire-purchase agreements are sufficient to ensure that the customer is not overcharged, is in all cases given fair and reasonable treatment, and is not exploited.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hire-Purchase Regulations.
41.
I am aware that door-to-door canvassing is an aspect of hire-purchase sales methods. All hire-purchase transactions are subject to the requirements of the Hire-Purchase Acts and I have no evidence that those requirements have proved inadequate to protect purchasers from being exploited.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the Acts do not lay down requirements in relation to hire-purchase charges, which are a matter for settlement between the contracting parties.
Is the Minister aware that some of the major hire-purchase firms are not sending on copies of the agreement the purchaser is purported to have entered into for months after the transaction?
If they do that it invalidates the agreement and the hirer is no longer bound by it.
Is the Minister satisfied that the order he made on 1st April, 1962 is being carried out?
I understood that the hire-purchase companies were given reasonable time in which to comply with the requirements of that order; in other words, reasonable time to print hire purchase documents that would comply with the order. So far, I have received no complaints that the requirements are not being carried out.
I presume then that if we forwarded the Minister a number of complaints, he would act on them?
I certainly would.