Terms and conditions

By using consumer.org.nz, you accept these terms and conditions. When you purchase a membership, you accept the general terms of use, and the specific conditions that apply to that membership. You may wish to print this page for your reference.

You should read these terms and conditions in conjunction with our Privacy policy and Security policy. If you are also using Powerswitch, you should read the terms and conditions on powerswitch.org.nz.

General terms of use

Your rights of use
You access and use consumer.org.nz provided you comply with these terms and conditions. In the event there was more than a minor breach of these terms and conditions, we reserve the right to cancel your access to consumer.org.nz.

The content of consumer.org.nz is for your personal use only. You must not share this service with any other person or organisation. Special conditions apply for organisations that wish to extend their access to consumer.org.nz to their members or employees. Please address all requests for business memberships to onlineservice@consumer.org.nz.

You agree not to interrupt or attempt to interrupt the operation of consumer.org.nz in any way.

No commercial use policy
Our reports, information and ratings may not be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our express permission.

Copyright
Consumer NZ owns the copyright for all content on consumer.org.nz, unless stated otherwise.

Reproducing material
All users are allowed to view and copy free materials from consumer.org.nz for their own personal use. Members are also allowed to view and copy member-only material for their own personal use.

Any other reproduction (including by electronic means) of consumer.org.nz or any of our other publications, in whole or in part, is forbidden without our written permission. Please address requests to editor@consumer.org.nz.

Errors and updates
We reserve the right to add or remove material, and correct errors. If you find any errors on any part of consumer.org.nz, please report them to editor@consumer.org.nz.

Email communications
All new Consumer NZ members are opted in to receive email marketing communications.

You may choose to remove yourself from any email newsletter group by following the "unsubscribe" prompt at the bottom of each email or by updating your preferences in your My Consumer profile.

Links to other sites
Links within consumer.org.nz are provided for your information. We do not endorse and have not verified any of the information available through the use of any third party link found within consumer.org.nz. We accept no liability for any loss caused as a result of any information or opinion contained in any third party link found within consumer.org.nz.

Linking to consumer.org.nz If you wish to link to our website, you must comply with certain requirements. For a list of these requirements, and to request a link to consumer.org.nz, please email us at editor@consumer.org.nz.

No liability for damage
We will use our best efforts to keep consumer.org.nz free from viruses and errors. However, to the maximum extent permitted by law, we do not accept liability for any damage or loss caused to your computer hardware, software, internet connections or other peripherals as a result of your use of consumer.org.nz.

Privacy and security
When you become a member of consumer.org.nz or purchase one of our products, you will be set up with a Consumer NZ account. All personal information we collect about you is stored securely.

Credit card details are not handled or stored by us, they are captured directly by a PCI DSS compliant payment provider.

To read more about our security, read our Security policy. We will keep all your personal information confidential. We will not sell any of your personal information to a third party without your permission. But we will share your contact information with companies that work on our behalf so that we can continue to effectively provide our services to you.

For more information about how we use and store your personal information, please read our Privacy policy.

Complaints
If you have any complaints about the consumer.org.nz service, please contact us at onlineservice@consumer.org.nz or call Customer Services on 0800 266 786.

Changes to terms and conditions
We may change these terms and conditions at any time. Each time you use consumer.org.nz you are agreeing to the terms and conditions applicable at that time. We provide a link to these terms and conditions at the bottom of every page of the consumer.org.nz. If substantial changes are made we will notify you of these changes 30 days in advance, in writing or by email at the address we currently hold for you.

Jurisdiction
The laws of New Zealand apply to these terms and conditions. Any dispute arising in relation to these terms and conditions will be resolved in accordance with New Zealand law.

Consumer Guarantees Act
Nothing in these terms and conditions limits your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

Contacting us
Please address any questions or complaints to our Customer Services team at onlineservice@consumer.org.nz.

Membership options The following membership options are available at consumer.org.nz:

• Free (Bronze) membership, enables you to keep in touch with what's new from Consumer. You can stay in the know about our latest tests, consumer rights and issues affecting you.
• Paid membership, gives you access to New Zealand’s only independent test and research results on thousands of products and services, our consumer advice line, access to deals from Consumer Trusted businesses, and the option to receive Consumer magazine for an additional fee.
• Corporate membership, can be set up in a way that suits you; online access to consumer.org.nz with multiple user logins, Consumer magazine, or both. Note: Corporate memberships are not entitled to access deals. Libraries and Educational Institutions will not be granted online access.

Prices
All prices are stated in New Zealand dollars (NZD), and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Price changes
We reserve the right to increase our fees or to introduce new prices for our products and services at any time. You will be advised of any such changes 30 days in advance in writing or by email at the address we currently hold for you. Any such changes will also be published in advance on consumer.org and in Consumer magazine.

Methods of payment
Payment for all purchases made online is by credit card only. Your account will be charged in NZD.

Free (Bronze) membership

Your personal information
You agree to provide us with accurate and complete personal information necessary to activate your membership. This includes:

• Your name;
• Your email address.

To read more about how we use and store your personal information, read our Privacy Policy.

Your obligations
You agree not to sell, assign or transfer your rights as a consumer.org.nz member.

Your username and password
As part of the registration process, you will use your email address as a username and select a password. You will use your username and password to gain access to consumer.org.nz.

When your free membership begins
When your membership has been processed, we will confirm this by email.

Security and unauthorised use
You must keep your username and password confidential. You are responsible for ensuring there is no unauthorised use of consumer.org.nz under your username and password.

You agree to notify us promptly if:

• You suspect unauthorised use of your consumer.org.nz access; or
• Know or suspect loss or disclosure of your username or password.

Updating your personal information
If any of your personal information changes, you agree to notify us promptly, either by logging into consumer.org.nz and updating your details in your My Consumer profile, or by contacting us at onlineservice@consumer.org.nz.

Contacting you
If you are a member, we may contact you to:

• Clarify details about your membership;
• Advise you of changes to our services or new products or promotions;
• Respond to any enquiries you make; or
• Provide any information necessary for the operation and security of our Site.

Email communications
All new Consumer NZ members are opted in to receive email marketing communications.

You may choose to remove yourself from any email newsletter group by following the "unsubscribe" prompt at the bottom of each email or by updating your preferences in your My Consumer profile.

Cancelling your free membership
You may cancel your free membership at any time.

To do this, access My Consumer on consumer.org.nz and follow the cancellation instructions, call Customer Services on 0800 266 786 or email onlineservice@consumer.org.nz.

You agree that we may contact you within a reasonable timeframe after you have cancelled your membership to notify you about new Consumer NZ products, services and promotions that we think may be of interest to you. You may choose to remove yourself from any email newsletter group by following the "unsubscribe" prompt at the bottom of each email.

Paid membership

Payment
The first payment for your selected paid membership is processed at the time of joining.

Subsequent payment
Subsequent monthly payments will be charged to your credit card five days before your current paid-up period ends. We will continue to charge your credit card in this manner until you cancel your membership or your membership otherwise comes to an end. The amount charged will be the current published rates for your membership type.

For any subsequent annual, 2-yearly or 3-yearly payments you will be notified at least 5 days prior to payment being charged, in writing or by email at the address we currently hold for you. In the absence of any contact to advise us otherwise, payment will be charged to your credit card five days before your current paid-up period ends. We will continue to notify you of upcoming payments and charge your credit card in this manner until you cancel your membership or your membership otherwise comes to an end. The amount charged will be the current published rates for your membership type.

Your personal information
You agree to provide us with accurate and complete personal information necessary to activate your paid membership. This includes:

• Your name;
• Your email address;
• Credit card number, type, name on your card, CVC code and expiry date;
• Residential or postal address;
• Contact telephone number(s).

To read more about how we use and store your personal information, read our Privacy Policy.

Your obligations
You agree not to sell, assign or transfer your rights as a consumer.org.nz member.

You agree to pay the membership fee published on consumer.org.nz.

You agree that you are responsible for any other charges (including internet connection charges) you incur in order to access consumer.org.nz.

Your username and password
As part of the registration process, you will use your email address as a username and select a password. You will use your username and password to gain access to consumer.org.nz.

When your paid membership begins
When your membership has been processed and your first payment has been received, we will confirm your membership by email.

If you have opted in to paying an extra fee to receive Consumer magazine, your first magazine to be delivered will be the next published issue.

Security and unauthorised use
You must keep your username and password confidential. You are responsible for ensuring there is no unauthorised use of consumer.org.nz under your username and password.

You agree to notify us promptly if you:

• Suspect unauthorised use of your consumer.org.nz access; or
• Know or suspect loss or disclosure of your username or password.

Updating your personal information
If any of your personal information changes, you agree to notify us promptly, either by logging into consumer.org.nz and updating your details in your My Consumer profile, or by contacting us at onlineservice@consumer.org.nz.

Contacting you
If you are a member, we may contact you to:

• Clarify details about your membership;
• Advise you of changes to our services or new products or promotions;
• Respond to any enquiries you make; or
• Provide any information necessary for the operation and security of our site.

Email communications
All new Consumer NZ members are opted in to receive email marketing communications.

You may choose to remove yourself from any email newsletter group by following the "unsubscribe" prompt at the bottom of each email or by updating your preferences in your My Consumer profile.

Cancelling your membership
You may cancel your membership at any time.

To do this go to the My Membership section in your My Consumer profile on consumer.org.nz and follow the cancellation instructions or call Freephone 0800 266 786 or email onlineservice@consumer.org.nz.

When you cancel, your membership benefits continue until the end of your current paid up period. In some circumstances if you need to cancel your pay annually, two-yearly or three-yearly membership, we will provide a pro-rata refund of the remaining paid up period, on request.

You agree that we may contact you within a reasonable timeframe after you have cancelled your membership to notify you about new Consumer NZ products, services and promotions that we think may be of interest to you. You may choose to remove yourself from any email newsletter group by following the "unsubscribe" prompt at the bottom of each email.

Problems with payments
If we cannot charge your credit card account or do not receive payment owing from you, we will contact you at your most recently updated email address.

If we are unable to contact you by email, or any other means, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to consumer.org.nz.

Loyalty prize draw
Monthly member entry:
If you are still a paying Consumer member 100 days after joining, you will automatically enter our loyalty prize draw to win your choice from a selection of Consumer Recommended products.

Annual member entry:
If you are still a paying Consumer member 12 months and 10 days after joining, you will automatically enter our loyalty prize draw to win your choice from a selection of Consumer Recommended products.

2 yearly member entry:
If you join on a 2-yearly membership, you will automatically enter our loyalty prize draw to win your choice from a selection of Consumer Recommended products.

The loyalty prize draw is drawn every two months. You can only be in the loyalty prize draw once and you must be a paying Consumer member for the entire period above to enter. The prize winner will be picked randomly. The prize draw will take place within 7 working days of each prize draw closing. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. If the winner is not contactable within 3 days of the prize draw taking place, the prize may be redrawn. The prize must be picked from the selection of products provided by Consumer NZ. If the winners product choice is unavailable, a substitute product will be selected in agreement with the winner. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.

The prize draw is open only to new paying Consumer NZ members who are New Zealand residents. It excludes free members, members who pay via Fly Buys, members with an overseas address, business members, and Consumer NZ employees and their immediate families

Community Contributions

Consumer NZ may make available to site users the ability to comment on the content of research reports or to review products or other interactive communication facilities (such facilities collectively referred to here as "Community contributions").

Consumer NZ cannot review all communications made on or through the site. However, Consumer NZ reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor Community contributions and to edit, modify or delete any materials which Consumer NZ in its sole discretion determines to violate these terms and conditions, the Community guidelines, or to be in any other way offensive or contrary to any Consumer NZ policy.

See our Community guidelines policy for more information.

Technical support

Turning JavaScript on
Like many modern websites, consumer.org.nz requires JavaScript to be enabled for the site to function correctly.

Consumer uses JavaScript to do the following things:

• Hide 'busy' parts of a page within tabs
• Launch specialty content in 'lightbox'-style pop-ups
• Instantly update the search results when you change one of the filters

How to turn JavaScript on
If you do not have JavaScript turned on, you’ll see a message on the screen advising you to turn it on.

• Check which browser you are using (for example, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari or Chrome)
• Search your browser help for instructions, or go to enable-javascript.com for a visual guide to enabling JavaScript in the most commonly used browsers.

Consumer is designed for modern internet browser versions running on current operating systems. This includes Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Safari on Apple devices. If you are using Windows XP or Windows Vista, we recommend upgrading your operating system. Both of these systems are no longer being supported by Microsoft, which means your system is much more vulnerable to malicious software. If you are unable to upgrade, then we recommend ensuring your anti-virus program and Chrome browser are up to date.