MVDT handled 245 cases in year to June

The Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal (MVDT) handled 245 applications in the year to June and found in the consumer's favour in about 70 percent of cases, Consumer Affairs Minister John Boscawen said last night.

The MVDT provides a low-cost option for consumers with car purchase problems and last year it dealt with 228 applications.

Mr Boscawen said nearly 80 percent of cases were decided using the Consumer Gaurantees Act.

He said adjudicators Chris Cornwell and Nicola Wills had suggested in their reports that the Act needed to be amended to allow manufacturer's details to be published, as well as those of the trader, when a fault was found.

"These issues are being considered as part of the `One Law' review of consumer legislation currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs," Mr Boscawen said.

Mr Boscawen is ACT's new deputy leader and took over the ministerial role from ACT MP Heather Roy after she was dumped last week.