Glossary for Consumer Law Essentials: Difference between revisions

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{{Consumer Law Wikibook TOC}}
{{Consumer Law Wikibook TOC}}
*'''consumer:''' You are a consumer when you buy a product or a service.  
;consumer: You are a consumer when you buy a product or a service.  


*'''consumer complaint:''' A report from a consumer providing documentation about a problem with a product or service.
;consumer complaint: A report from a consumer providing documentation about a problem with a product or service.


*'''contract:''' An agreement between two or more people that gives them mutual obligations towards each other that can be enforced in court. A valid contract must be offered by one person and accepted by the other, and some form of payment or other thing of value must generally be exchanged between the parties to the contract.  
;contract: An agreement between two or more people that gives them mutual obligations towards each other that can be enforced in court. A valid contract must be offered by one person and accepted by the other, and some form of payment or other thing of value must generally be exchanged between the parties to the contract.  


*'''creditor:''' Person who is owed an amount of money.  
;creditor: Person who is owed an amount of money.  


*'''debt:''' A sum of money or an obligation owed by one person to another. A "debtor" is a person responsible for paying a debt; a "creditor" is the person to whom the debt is owed.  
;debt: A sum of money or an obligation owed by one person to another. A "debtor" is a person responsible for paying a debt; a "creditor" is the person to whom the debt is owed.  


*'''debtor:''' Person who owes money.  
;debtor: Person who owes money.  


*'''expense:''' Money spent on something.  
;expense: Money spent on something.  


*'''franchise:''' Authorization granted to an individual or to a group by a company to sell its goods or services.  
;franchise: Authorization granted to an individual or to a group by a company to sell its goods or services.  


*'''goods:''' Something you buy (same as “purchases” and “product”).  
;goods: Something you buy (same as “purchases” and “product”).  


*'''identity theft:''' Identity theft happens when someone takes your personal information and uses it without your knowledge or consent.  
;identity theft: Identity theft happens when someone takes your personal information and uses it without your knowledge or consent.  


*'''income:''' Money received by you.  
;income: Money received by you.  


*'''lien:''' A legal right that someone has on property because they provided some <span class="noglossary">material</span> or service to the property.
;lien: A legal right that someone has on property because they provided some <span class="noglossary">material</span> or service to the property.
   
   
*'''mediator:''' A mediator is a neutral <span class="noglossary">third party</span> who assists people involved in a disagreement to resolve their differences.
;mediator: A mediator is a neutral <span class="noglossary">third party</span> who assists people involved in a disagreement to resolve their differences.


*'''mystery shoppers:''' Mystery shopping or a mystery consumer is a tool used externally by market research companies, watchdog organizations, or internally by companies themselves to measure quality of service, compliance with regulation, or to gather specific information about products and services. The establishment being evaluated does not usually know the mystery consumer's identity and purpose. Mystery shoppers perform tasks such as purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints or behaving in a certain way, and then provide detailed reports or feedback about their experiences.  
;mystery shoppers: Mystery shopping or a mystery consumer is a tool used externally by market research companies, watchdog organizations, or internally by companies themselves to measure quality of service, compliance with regulation, or to gather specific information about products and services. The establishment being evaluated does not usually know the mystery consumer's identity and purpose. Mystery shoppers perform tasks such as purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints or behaving in a certain way, and then provide detailed reports or feedback about their experiences.  


*'''phishing:''' The word phishing comes from the analogy that Internet scammers are using emails to “fish” Internet users’ personal information. Also called "brand spoofing" is the creation of email messages and web pages that are replicas of existing legitimate sites and businesses. These websites and emails are used to trick users into submitting personal, financial, or password data. The emails often ask for information such as credit card numbers, bank <span class="noglossary">account</span> information, social insurance numbers, and passwords that <span class="noglossary">will</span> be used to commit fraud.
;phishing: The word phishing comes from the analogy that Internet scammers are using emails to “fish” Internet users’ personal information. Also called "brand spoofing" is the creation of email messages and web pages that are replicas of existing legitimate sites and businesses. These websites and emails are used to trick users into submitting personal, financial, or password data. The emails often ask for information such as credit card numbers, bank <span class="noglossary">account</span> information, social insurance numbers, and passwords that <span class="noglossary">will</span> be used to commit fraud.
   
   
*'''pyramid scheme:''' Pyramid schemes are frauds that are based on recruiting an ever-increasing number of investors. The initial promoters (those at the peak of the pyramid) recruit investors expected to bring in more investors, who may or may not sell products or distributorships. Recruiting newcomers is more important than selling products.
;pyramid scheme: Pyramid schemes are frauds that are based on recruiting an ever-increasing number of investors. The initial promoters (those at the peak of the pyramid) recruit investors expected to bring in more investors, who may or may not sell products or distributorships. Recruiting newcomers is more important than selling products.


*'''scam:''' ''(Name)'' A trick or a fraud. ''(Verb)'' Action of obtaining something in a manner not considered ethical or proper.  
;scam: ''(Name)'' A trick or a fraud. ''(Verb)'' Action of obtaining something in a manner not considered ethical or proper.  


*'''Small Claims Court:''' A court that manages claims for amounts of money up to $25,000.
;Small Claims Court: A court that manages claims for amounts of money up to $25,000.


*'''smishing:''' Comes from "SMS phishing" and refers to when scammers use cell phone text messages to induce people to divulge their personal information. The hook (the method used to actually capture people's information) in the text message may be a website, but it is now common to see a telephone number that connects to an automated voice response system.  
;smishing: Comes from "SMS phishing" and refers to when scammers use cell phone text messages to induce people to divulge their personal information. The hook (the method used to actually capture people's information) in the text message may be a website, but it is now common to see a telephone number that connects to an automated voice response system.  


*'''warranty:''' A promise made by the company that sells you the item about how long it <span class="noglossary">will</span> last and what it <span class="noglossary">will</span> do.  
;warranty: A promise made by the company that sells you the item about how long it <span class="noglossary">will</span> last and what it <span class="noglossary">will</span> do.  


{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}}
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}}

Revision as of 21:33, 6 December 2013

consumer
You are a consumer when you buy a product or a service.
consumer complaint
A report from a consumer providing documentation about a problem with a product or service.
contract
An agreement between two or more people that gives them mutual obligations towards each other that can be enforced in court. A valid contract must be offered by one person and accepted by the other, and some form of payment or other thing of value must generally be exchanged between the parties to the contract.
creditor
Person who is owed an amount of money.
debt
A sum of money or an obligation owed by one person to another. A "debtor" is a person responsible for paying a debt; a "creditor" is the person to whom the debt is owed.
debtor
Person who owes money.
expense
Money spent on something.
franchise
Authorization granted to an individual or to a group by a company to sell its goods or services.
goods
Something you buy (same as “purchases” and “product”).
identity theft
Identity theft happens when someone takes your personal information and uses it without your knowledge or consent.
income
Money received by you.
lien
A legal right that someone has on property because they provided some material or service to the property.
mediator
A mediator is a neutral third party who assists people involved in a disagreement to resolve their differences.
mystery shoppers
Mystery shopping or a mystery consumer is a tool used externally by market research companies, watchdog organizations, or internally by companies themselves to measure quality of service, compliance with regulation, or to gather specific information about products and services. The establishment being evaluated does not usually know the mystery consumer's identity and purpose. Mystery shoppers perform tasks such as purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints or behaving in a certain way, and then provide detailed reports or feedback about their experiences.
phishing
The word phishing comes from the analogy that Internet scammers are using emails to “fish” Internet users’ personal information. Also called "brand spoofing" is the creation of email messages and web pages that are replicas of existing legitimate sites and businesses. These websites and emails are used to trick users into submitting personal, financial, or password data. The emails often ask for information such as credit card numbers, bank account information, social insurance numbers, and passwords that will be used to commit fraud.
pyramid scheme
Pyramid schemes are frauds that are based on recruiting an ever-increasing number of investors. The initial promoters (those at the peak of the pyramid) recruit investors expected to bring in more investors, who may or may not sell products or distributorships. Recruiting newcomers is more important than selling products.
scam
(Name) A trick or a fraud. (Verb) Action of obtaining something in a manner not considered ethical or proper.
Small Claims Court
A court that manages claims for amounts of money up to $25,000.
smishing
Comes from "SMS phishing" and refers to when scammers use cell phone text messages to induce people to divulge their personal information. The hook (the method used to actually capture people's information) in the text message may be a website, but it is now common to see a telephone number that connects to an automated voice response system.
warranty
A promise made by the company that sells you the item about how long it will last and what it will do.
This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School, 2013.



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