Questions for lawyers Found 20

I was given a spa voucher as a present and put it in a drawer. When I finally tried to book, the business said it had expired the month before and refused to honour it. There was no expiry date printed on the voucher itself, only on their website. Can they do that?

I paid by card for a jacket from an overseas online shop that looked professional and even quoted prices in New Zealand dollars. Weeks have passed with no delivery and the seller has stopped answering emails. Do New Zealand consumer laws help me at all, or am I just out of pocket?

I run a small cafe and signed a standard supplier agreement for equipment leasing. Later I noticed the supplier can change the price whenever it wants and can end the contract at any time, but I am locked in for years with hefty exit fees. Do small businesses have any protection against terms like this?

A parcel arrived with a set of kitchen knives I never ordered. A week later I received an invoice and then a threatening reminder about debt collection. I had not even opened the package. Am I obliged to pay, or to send the goods back at my own cost?

I bought a car from a private seller after viewing it twice. The seller said it had never been in an accident, but a repairer has now found evidence of serious past crash repairs. The seller is not answering my messages. Can I get my money back given it was not a dealer sale?

I bought a coat online, tried it on and simply decided I did not like it. The shop refuses any refund, saying they do not do refunds for change of mind. The coat has not been worn and still has tags. Are they legally allowed to say no?

I bought a washing machine and the salesperson strongly pushed a five-year extended warranty, hinting that the standard cover was almost worthless. I paid extra, but now I have read something about statutory guarantees. Did I waste my money, and can I cancel it?

I bought a second-hand car from a yard and the automatic gearbox started slipping about three weeks later. The dealer says used cars are sold as seen and that I accepted the risk when I signed. Is that true, or do I have rights because it came from a dealer?

I have a dispute with a retailer over a faulty appliance worth a few thousand dollars. I cannot afford a lawyer and I have heard the Disputes Tribunal is the place for these issues. How does it work, what does it cost and what should I bring with me?

I bought a handbag from a person on an online marketplace who described it as authentic, with a receipt photo. When it arrived it was clearly a fake. The seller now says they bought it in good faith and is not offering a refund. Do I have any way to recover my money?