APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2014/2015

ELE 3717 Consumer Rights

Responsible for the course
Monica Viken

Department
Department of Accounting - Auditing and Law

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
Norwegian

Introduction
This course in consumer rights focuses directly on the duties that the business community has towards consumers. Several sets of regulations have been formulated with the aim of protecting consumers as a group with appurtenant dispute resolution bodies. However, it turns out that the business community has little knowledge of these rules and therefore risks getting involved in expensive conflicts that could have been avoided if they had been more knowledgeable about consumer rights. It will be both cost-effective for each enterprise and socio-economically worthwhile to improve the knowledge level on consumer rights. The business community must be aware of the rules on consumer rights in order to fulfil their own duties formulated in various regulations.

Learning outcome
Acquired knowledge
The students shall gain a good understanding of the particular requirements laid down by legislation when a consumer is party to a contract or the recipient of advertising. They shall be aware of the special considerations that have to be taken into account regarding interpretations of contracts or formulation of standard contracts aimed at consumers. They shall also gain an insight into the rules on breaches of contracts and claims in the consumer sales act, as well as an understanding of the rules in the craftsmen services act and other services. The students shall also learn about the systems for conflict resolution associated with consumer disputes.

Acquired skills
The students shall be able to account for the main consumer rights and be able to handle consumer issues in practice. They shall be able to identify topical problems within the law of sales disputes and give legally valid advice to consumers in a dispute situation.

Reflection
The students shall have a conscious attitude to the ethical dilemmas of consumer disputes.

Prerequisites
JUR 3420 Marketing Law or JUR 3430 Business Law.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Giertsen, Johan. 2012. Avtaler. 2. utg. Universitetsforlaget
Langfeldt, Sverre Faafeng og Tore Bråthen. Lov og rett for næringslivet. Siste utg. Universitetsforlaget : Focus forlag. Kap 2 (Markedsføringsloven), Pkt 6.3 (Angrerettloven) og pkt 6.4 (Kjøp av tjenester)
Martinussen, Roald. 2010. Forbrukerkjøp. 2. utg. Cappelen akademisk

Other:
Det vil bli utdelt kopier av relevante artikler i undervisningen


Recommended reading

Course outline

• The entering into and interpretation of contracts when one contracting party is a consumer
• Enabling rules
• The duties of the business community as regards the consumer sales act, the craftsmen services act and other services
• Complaint rules and dispute resolution bodies
• The rules on consumers’ right of cancellation
• The rules on marketing aimed at consumers