Read and translate the text. 11.10.2016 08:19

UNIT 1

Read and translate the text.

WHAT IS LAW?

The question "What is law?" has troubled people for many years. A whole field of study known as juris­prudence (the study of law and legal philosophy) is de­voted to answering this question. Many definitions of law exist. For our purposes, however, law can be de­fined as the rules and regulations made and enforced by the government that regulate the conduct of people within a society.

As a child, you learned about rules first at home and later at school. At home, your parents made and enforced rules concerning issues like chores and bed­times. Rules made and enforced by the government are called laws. The government makes laws that affect almost every aspect of daily life.

One thing is certain: every society that has ever existed has recognized the need for laws. These laws may have been unwritten, but even pre-industrial societies had rules to regulate people's conduct. Na­tive American societies, for example, were governed by unwritten laws. When Europeans first arrived on the North American continent, each of the native American nations (or tribes, as they are commonly called today) maintained order through a system of unwritten rules. Because many non-native American government officials and others did not see or under­stand these traditional mechanisms, many non-native Americans held the erroneous view that the societies were lawless. Today, some native American groups are still governed, at least in part, by traditional unwritten law.

Without laws, there would be confusion and disorder. This does not mean that all laws are fair or even good, but imagine how people might take advantage of one another without a set of rules.

 

1. Find the equivalents for the following words and expressions in the text:

существовать, приводить в жизнь, внутри общества, каждый аспект повседневной жизни, признать необходимость законов, неписаный закон, доиндустриальное общество, поведение людей, поддержи­вать порядок, ошибочное мнение, путаница и бес­порядок, набор правил

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. Why has the question "What is law?" troubled people for many years?

2. Read and translate the text. What is jurispru­dence?

3. What definition of law is given in the text?

4. Why does any existing society need laws?

5. Have laws always been written?

6. What would happen if people lived without laws?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Make a list of all your daily activities (for example, waking up, eating, going to school). Next to each item, list any laws that affect that activity. What is the pur­pose of each law that you identified? Would you change any of these laws? Why?

 

Read and translate the text.

KINDS OF LAWS

Laws fall into two major groups: criminal and civil. Criminal laws regulate public conduct and set out duties owed to society. A criminal case is a legal action brought by the government against a person charged with committing, a crime. Criminal laws have penal­ties, and offenders are imprisoned, fined, placed un­der supervision, or punished in some other way. Crim­inal offenses are divided into felonies and misdemean­ors. The penalty, for a felony is a term of more than one year in prison. For a misdemeanor, the penalty is a prison term of one year or less. Felonies are more serious crimes such as murder or robbery. Misde­meanors are less serious crimes such as simple assault or minor theft.

Civil laws regulate relations between individuals or groups of individuals. A civil action (lawsuit) can be brought bу a person who feels wronged or injured by another person. Courts may award the injured person money for the loss, or they may order the person who committed the wrong to make amends in some other way. An example of a civil action is a lawsuit for recovery of damages suffered in an automobile accident. Civil laws regulate many everyday situations such as marriage, divorce, contracts, real estate, insurance, consumer protection, and negligence.

Sometimes one action can violate both civil and criminal law. For example, if Joe beats up Bob, he may have to pay Bob's medical bills under civil law and may be charged with the crime оf assault under criminal law.

 

1. Find the equivalents for the following words and expressions in the text:

уголовное право, гражданское право, совершать преступление, нарушитель, оштрафовать, поместить под наблюдение, уголовное преступление, судебно наказуемый проступок, убийство, грабеж, нападение, воровство, возмещать убытки, судебный процесс (тяжба) 

2. Answer the questions:

1.  What two groups of laws do you know?

2. What is a criminal case?

3. How are criminal offenses divided?

4. What crimes are more serious?

5. What is the penalty for a felony? for a misdemeanor?

6. Make a list of all the crimes mentioned in the text.

7. What do civil laws regulate?

8. Give your own examples of how one action can violate both civil and criminal laws.

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

jurisprudence	law dealing with private rights of citizens, not with crime
criminal law	punishment for wrongdoing
civil law	the branch of law dealing with crimes and their punishment
felony	recognized and permitted by the law
misdemeanor	accuse
murder	violent and sudden attack
penalty	the study of law and legal philosophy
assault	major serious crime, e.g. murder, armed robbery, arson
responsibility	legal offence less serious than a felony
charge	prosecution of a claim in a law court
lawsuit	unlawful killing of a human being on purpose
legal	duty

 

5. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Существует много определений понятия "право.

2. Всякое общество, которое когда-либо сущест­вовало, признавало необходимость законов.

3. Во многих племенах порядок поддерживается системой традиционных неписаных законов.

4. Жизнь любого общества невозможна без зако­нов.       

5. Гражданское право регулирует взаимоотноше­ния между отдельными людьми и группами людей.

6. Нарушитель был оштрафован на $300.

7. Что это за преступление: воровство или грабеж?

8. Потерпевшему возместили убытки.

 

Read, translate and finish the dialogue.

 

PEOPLE IN LAW CASES IN GREAT BRITAIN

 

Narrator:	The solicitor says why he thinks thefts occur, and then he gives his views on violence.
Solicitor:	In thefts I would say that the strongest motive is not to work. Oh, for theft, and very often there is a pattern of drinking, involved in the theft...
Interviewer:	Could you give an example?
Solicitor:	They leave the pub, they go out, they see a house which is in darkness with a couple of milk bot­tles on the doorstep, they think, "Right, we'll do that house and get a bit more beer money for tomorrow."
Interviewer:	What about violence, it's one thing I find least easy to explain.
Solicitor:	Because very often it's not explicable. I have very frequently found there is a pattern here too, especially the juvenile offenders, broken homes...
Interviewer:	You mean they come from broken homes...
Solicitor:	Yes, from broken homes, or large, un­happy, rather poor families.

 

1. Answer the questions:

1. What is the strongest motive for theft?

2. What pattern often occurs in lives of people involved in theft?

3. What house do robbers usually choose?

4. What background do robbers most often come from?

 

2. Retell the dialogue in indirect speech.

 

3. Problem-solving.

Matt and Luther decide to skip school. They take Luther's brother's car without telling him and drive to a local shopping center. Ignoring the sign Parking for Handicapped Persons Only, they leave the car and enter a radio and TV shop.

After looking around, they buy a portable AM-FM radio. Then they buy some sandwiches from a street vendor and walk to a nearby park. While eating, they discover that the radio does not work. In their hurry to return it, they leave their trash on the park bench.

When Matt and Luther get back to the shopping center, they notice a large dent in one side of their car. The dent appears to be the result of a driver's care­lessly backing out of the next space. They also notice that the car has been broken into and that the tape deck has been removed.

They call the police to report the accident and theft. When the police arrive, they seize a small clear bag containing illegal drugs from behind the car's back seat. Matt and Luther are arrested.

 

a. List what you think Matt and Luther did wrong.

b. What laws are involved in the story?

c. Which of these are criminal laws? Which are civil laws?

 

4. Role-play.

Dramatize the story.

The roles: Matt, Luther, the shop assistant, the street vendor, the policeman.

 

UNIT 2

Read and translate the text.

LAW AND MORAL

Laws generally reflect and promote a society's values. Our legal system is influenced by our society's tra­ditional ideas of right and wrong. For example, laws against murder reflect the moral belief that killing another person is wrong. Most people would condemn murder regardless of what the law said. However, not everything that is immoral is also illegal. For example, lying to a friend may be immoral but is seldom illegal.

We expect our legal system to achieve many goals. These include (1) protecting basic human rights, (2) promoting fairness, (3) helping resolve conflicts, (4) promoting order and stability, (5) protecting the environment, (6) representing the will of the majori­ty, and (7) protecting the rights of minorities.

Many of society's most difficult problems involve conflicts among these goals. For example, in trying to make up for past discrimination, some laws give pref­erence to minorities over whites or to women over men. Laws must balance rights with responsibilities, the will of the majority with the rights of the minori­ty, the need for order with the need for basic free­dom. Reasonable people sometimes disagree over how the law can protect the rights of some without violat­ing the rights of others.

Laws can be based on moral, economic, political, or social values. As values change, so can laws. Moral val­ues deal with fundamental questions of right and wrong. For example, laws against killing promote so­ciety's primary moral value—the protection of life. However, as already noted, some things that are con­sidered immoral may not violate the law. In limited circumstances, such as in self-defense or during a time of war, even an intentional killing may be legal.

Economic values deal with the accumulation, pres­ervation, use, and distribution of wealth. Many laws promote economic values by encouraging certain eco­nomic decisions and discouraging others. The law en­courages home ownership by giving tax benefits to people who borrow money to pay for a home, for ex­ample. Laws against shoplifting protect property and discourage stealing by providing a criminal penalty.

Political values reflect the relationship between government and individuals. Laws making it easier to vote promote citizen participation in the political pro­cess, a basic American political value.

Social values concern issues that are important to society. For example, it is an American social value that all students are provided with free public education through high school. Consequently, all states have laws providing such education. Like other values, social values can change. In the past, for example, society believed that school sports were not as important for girls as for boys. This value has changed. Today, laws require schools to provide females with sports opportunities similar to those offered to males.

Many laws combine moral, economic, political, and social values. For example, laws against theft deal with the moral issue of stealing, the economic issue of protection of property, the political issue of how govern­ment punishes those who violate criminal statutes and the social issue of respecting the property of others.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

отражать и обеспечивать ценности общества, осуждать убийство, незаконный, защищать права человека, разрешить конфликт, обеспечить порядок и стабильность, защищать окружающую среду, большинство/меньшинство, отдавать предпочтение, сбалансировать права и обязанности, нарушать права, защита жизни, при определенных обстоятельствах, самооборона, льготы по налогообложению, участие, бесплатное государственное образование

 

2. Answer  the questions:

1. What do laws reflect and promote?

2. What influences our legal system? How?

3. Think of your own examples of something that is immoral, but not illegal. Now try to find examples of something illegal but not immoral in our society.

4. What goals do we expect our legal system to achieve?

5. Why can laws change when values do?

6. What do economic values deal with?

7. How can laws promote economic values?

8. What values are placed in conflict by laws pro­tecting the environment?

9. How does the law encourage people to buy homes?

10. What is the difference between political and social values?

11. Make a short summary of the text. Do you agree with all the ideas given there?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

Human rights	a person who rents property
order	impose a penalty on (an offender) of for (an offence)
self -defense	the number greater than half of any total
shoplifting	the right to defend oneself with whatever force is reasonable  necessary  against an actual or reasonably perceived threat of personal harm
punish	stability
human rights	a person who rents property
tenant	basic privileges a person has as a human being
taxes	a form of larceny in which items are taken from a store without payment or the intention to pay
theft	sum of money paid by citizens (according to income, value of purchases, etc.) to the government for public purposes
majority	stealing

 

5. Translate the following sentences it

1. На формирование системы законов влияют традиционные взгляды общества на добро и зло.

2. Не все, аморальные действия являются неза­конными.

3. Законы опираются на моральные, экономиче­ские, политические и социальные ценности.

4. Многие законы отражают одновременно раз­личные ценности общества.

5. При составлении законов необходимо соблю­дать равновесие между правами и обязанностями, волей большинства и правами меньшинства, необходимостью порядка и соблюдением основных свобод.

6. При определенных обстоятельствах (самообо­рона, воина) преднамеренное убийство не считает­ся незаконным.

7. С течением времени социальные ценности могут меняться, вслед за этим происходит и смета за­конов.

8. Законодательства многих стран гарантируют бесплатное образование и медицинское обслуживание.

 

Read and translate the dialogue.

 

Narrator:	The solicitor describes a violent crime he has had to defend.
Solicitor:	I can think of a man who used to live, in a caravan, and his marriage broke up, and shortly after the break-up of marriage he had serious mental illness...
Interviewer:	I see...
Solicitor:	And he began drinking and he seemed to be unable to keep any job for very long and one particular night he committed a crime, fair degree of seriousness. He went into a bus station. For no apparent reason he hit an elderly man, on the face, as he entered the bus station. Two children then came into his notice and he chased these two children on to a bus. He beat two children. When another elderly man who was also sitting on the bus, which was waiting to depart...
Interviewer:	Did he try to interfere?
Solicitor:	Yes, he tried to prevent him from beat­ing the children, he beat the elderly man and then, departing from the bus station, he assaulted another woman on his way out.
Interviewer:	I see...
Solicitor:	No apparent reason at all we had extensive medical and psychiatric reports, a social report by the probation service, because this man had been in trouble before. And when it really boiled down to it, he was just anti-social.

 

1. Answer the questions:

1. After what event in his life did the man be­come a criminal?

2. Why couldn't the man keep any job for very long?

3. How serious was the crime that this man com­mitted?

4. Where did the crime occur?

5. Where was the elderly man sitting when the criminal beat him? Why did the criminal beat him?

6. What information did the solicitor obtain about Ms defendant (before starting to work on the case)?

 

2. Retell the dialogue in indirect speech.

Read and retell the text.

THE BABY MILK BOYCOTT

A company had been advertising the sale and use of its baby formula in underdeveloped countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. To encourage new mothers to feed their babies formula instead of breast milk, the company had been giving free supplies of its formula to hospitals.

Critics of the company's practices said that breast­feeding at home was difficult once babies had been bottle-fed with formula in the hospital. The critics pointed out that many mothers, after leaving the hos­pital, discovered that bottled formula was too expen­sive; as a result, their babies were often underfed. When mothers did use the formula, they often mixed it with polluted water. The critics stated that many of the 3,500 infant deaths occurring daily around the world resulted from inadequate nourishment.

The company denied that its practices caused the deaths of babies. It asserted that its formula was ben­eficial to babies and that other factors, such as poor health care, caused infant deaths. The company be­lieved it was unfair to criticize the promotion of a safe and useful product, noting that mothers who could not breast-feed needed bottled formula.

Beginning in 1977, citizens of various countries be­gan to organize a boycott of the company's formula and of its other products, which included different types of baby food and chocolate. The boycott attract­ed attention from the media and other groups. UNICEF (United Nation's International Children's Emergency Fund) and the World Health Organization issued regulations declaring that the company's marketing practices would in the future be considered il­legal. In 1988, however, it was discovered that the company was still offering free formula to new moth­ers in many countries. Because the company was based in Europe, the European Community (EC) was asked to take action. In 1992, the EC set up complaint procedures in 100 countries.

 

1. Role-play.

Role-play a meeting between "Boycotters to End Infant Formula Deaths" and representatives of the formula manufacturer. After each side presents its point of view, both should try to reach an agreement to address the problem.

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. With which position in the role-play do you agree? Explain. Was an agreement reached?

2. What does the word boycott mean? Do you think the boycott worked in this case?

3. Do you know of other consumer boycotts? Describe them and explain why people were boycotting. Do you think the boycotts were effective? Were any of them waged against someone other than a manufacturer?

4. What alternatives to boycotting do people who dislike the practices of a company or group have? Compare the effectiveness of boycotts with that of alternatives.

 

UNIT 3

Read and translate the texts.

CONSUMER LAW

Have you ever bought a meal in a restaurant or a pair of sneakers at a sporting goods store? Have you ever ridden a bus to work or had your car repaired at a service station? If you did any of these things you were a consumer. A consumer is a person who buys goods and services for personal or household purpos­es from a seller.

When sellers agree to provide and consumers agree to pay for goods or services, the parties have entered into a legal agreement. The agreement is called a con­tract. Every time you order a meal in a restaurant, you promise to pay for it, and the restaurant promises to give you a meal that is fit to eat. If the consumer and the seller have a dispute they can't settle themselves, the law may help determine the outcome.

For many years, consumer law was characterized by the legal expression caveat emptor. This means "let the buyer beware." In other words, consumers had to look out for unfair and misleading sales practices be­fore buying or else be prepared to suffer the conse­quences. Once consumers bought something, they were stuck with the purchase, even if they got less than they bargained for, such as unsafe or poor-qual­ity products.

Today the law is more balanced. Consumers now have a right to be correctly informed of important information, such as quality, price and credit terms. Sell­ers must avoid sales and advertising practices that mislead, deceive, or are otherwise unfair to consum­ers. This increased concern for consumers is based on the fact that sellers are usually better informed about the products or services being offered and are usually m control of the sales transaction.

Even though the law has changed, the best protec­tion is still a careful purchase. Learning about prod­ucts and services, shopping carefully, and knowing your legal rights and how to enforce them are the best ways to avoid a problem.

You should also recognize that if you receive poor-quality merchandise or fall victim to a deceptive prac­tice, all is not lost. You can often solve the problem yourself. And when you can't, the law may provide a remedy. This chapter will help you become a better consumer — able to recognize, avoid, and, when nec­essary, resolve consumer problems.

While consumers have many rights, they also have responsibilities. For example, they have a responsi­bility to sellers to be fair and honest. A consumer who buys an item of clothing, wears it once to a party, and then returns it is not being fair and honest. When this happens, a seller's costs go up, and everyone winds up paying higher prices.

 

INFLUENCES ON CONSUMERS

Smart consumers understand the factors that in­fluence their shopping habits. They think about whether they need the product, whether they can afford it, and how they can purchase it carefully. They also know the difference between wanting and needing a product. Of course, sometimes all consumers splurge and buy things they really don't need. But smart shoppers don't spend so much on things they want that they can't afford what they really need.

Consumers often buy things in response to adver­tising. A great deal of television, radio, newspaper, and magazine advertising is geared toward specific groups of people. For example, sellers know that teenagers are an extremely important market for their goods and services, and so they develop specific ads for this audience. Advertising to teens has been stepped up as studies have shown that today's parents make fewer buying decisions for their children. The ads, which are often purchased for shows or publications that partic­ularly appeal to teens, are designed to increase sales of the products advertised. Many ads provide useful information about products or announce the start of a sale. However, ads may also attempt to influence you to purchase a product that you do not need or want or that you cannot afford.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

соглашение, определить исход, страдать от по­следствий, товары низкого качества, условия кре­дита, вводить в заблуждение, стать жертвой, избе­жать проблемы, в ответ на рекламу, быть нацелен­ным на..., увеличивать объем продаж, пытаться повлиять, средство судебной защиты, "пусть поку­патель будет бдителен" (покупатель действует на свой риск), пускать пыль в глаза

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. Define the term consumer.

2. How was consumer law characterized for many years?

3. What did it mean?

4. Why is the law more balanced today?

5. What is the best protection for consumers? Why?

6. How can you avoid problems?

7. Do consumers have any responsibilities? Give your examples.

8. What factors influence smart consumers shop­ping habits? Are you a smart consumer?

9. How does advertising influence consumers?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Select an item costing more than $100 that you or your family would like to purchase. What item did you select? Use the library at your school or in your neigh­borhood to find answers to the following questions:

1. What publications can provide you with in formation about this product? How else can you get information about it?

2. What specific information is provided about the product?

3. How can this information help you to be a smart consumer?

 

5. Problem-solving.

Identify an ad for a product you would consider buying. If the ad appeared in a newspaper or maga­zine, cut it out and bring it to class. If it was aired on the radio or television, either tape (or videotape) the ad or write a description of it and bring it to class. An­swer the following questions about your ad:

1. What product or service does the ad promote?

2. Who is the target audience for this product or service?

3. If the ad appeared on radio or television, at what time and during what program did it appear? If it appeared in print, in what publication did it appear? Why do you think the advertiser chose to run the ad in this way?

4. What information provided in this ad would you need to make a decision to purchase the prod­uct? Is there information you would need about the product that is not included in the ad? What is that information? How would you obtain it?

5. What makes this ad effective in encouraging you to buy the item advertised?

 

6. Problem-solving.

Create an ad that would encourage a teenager to buy one of the following products: a portable com­pact disc player, new basketball shoes, a meal at a fast-food restaurant, or toothpaste.

 

1. When you designed your ad, what ideas did you use to appeal to your audience?

2. Do professional advertising people use these ideas?

 

Read and translate the dialogue.

Narrator:	The solicitor explains why he defends peo­ple who admit they are guilty, then he gives an example.
Interviewer:	It's your job to defend a person as best as possible...
Solicitor:	As best as possible...
Interviewer:	Well I mean how can one do that if one feels that for instance the person is really guilty, for instance.
Solicitor:	Oh, well I suppose really, one can put it very simply that my firm has a reputation for suc­cessful criminal defence and to some extent one is try­ing to continue that reputation. But sometimes there is very little that can be said...
Interviewer:	What exactly do you mean?
Solicitor:	I have a case at the moment actually where I have been told, by the client in no uncertain terms that he committed a particular offence on a particular night in a particular fashion. The police think that they can prove that he did this particular job crime.
Interviewer:	Mm....
Solicitor:	Our defence is the entirely negative de­fence that the police are required to prove their case. My client will never go in the witness box. He will nev­er say a word from beginning to end. My duties will be entirely to cross-examine the police on the evidence which they say they have, the things which they say they saw the things they allege were said.
Interviewer:	You feel that your duty then to try to prove this man is innocent even though as it happens in this one particular case you really know that he isn't?
Solicitor:	Yes. I am instructed to do a particular de­fence, in a particular way, and that is what I shall do.

 

1. Answer the questions:

1. What reputation does the solicitor's firm have?

2. Why does the solicitor defend people he knows are guilty?

3. Describe what he has been told in the case he has at the moment.

4. What will his client do in court?

5. What exactly will the solicitor do? What will he ask questions about?

6. How does the solicitor feel about what he has to do?

 

2. Retell the dialogue in indirect speech.

 

3. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

consumer	haggle excessively before agreeing to buy or sell
caveat emptor	an illegal act or omission punishable under criminal law
remedy	a person who buys goods and services for personal or household purposes from a seller
contract	any proceeding, action, cause, lawsuit or controversy initiated through the court system
bargain	let the buyer beware
geared toward	goods
merchandise	aimed at
dispute	smth used for putting right what is wrong
offence	argue, call into question
case	legal agreement

 

4. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Вы когда-нибудь покупали товары в магазине?

2. Каждый раз, когда Вы заказываете еду в ресторане, Вы обещаете заплатить за нее, а ресторан обязуется дать Вам еду.

3. Сегодня потребители имеют право получить достоверную информацию о качестве товара, цене и условиях кредита.

4. Самым лучшим средством защиты от покупки некачественного товара является бдительность са­мого покупателя.

5. Если Вы приобрели товар плохого качества, еще не все потеряно. Вы можете разрешить про­блему самостоятельно или обратиться в суд.

6. Опытные покупатели перед покупкой товара задумываются, нужен ли им этот товар и могут ли они его себе позволить.

7. Часто потребители покупают товар после его рекламы по телевидению, радио, в газете или жур­нале.

8. Реклама обычно нацелена на определенные группы населения.

9. Много рекламных объявлений содержат полезную информацию о товарах, но реклама может также повлиять на покупателя и побудить его купить товар, который ему не нужен или тот, кото­рый он не может себе позволить.

 

UNIT 4

Read and translate the text:

HOW LAWS PROTECT THE CONSUMER

The federal, state, and local governments all have laws that protect the consumer. As you read this sec­tion, and whenever you think about consumer pro­tection problems, ask yourself: What are my rights under federal law? under state law? under local law?

Federal Law

Congress has passed many consumer protection laws. These laws protect consumers in several ways. First, they prohibit unfair or misleading trade prac­tices, such as false advertising, unfair pricing, and mislabeling. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the federal agency primarily concerned with unfair or deceptive trade practices.

Second, federal laws set standards for the quality, safety, and reliability of many goods and services. Fail­ure to meet these standards can result in legal action against the seller. For example, the Consumer Prod­uct Safety Act allows the government to ban, seize, or prevent the sale of harmful products.

Third, the federal government has established many agencies that enforce consumer laws and help consumers. For example, as already mentioned, the Federal Trade Commission has the power to prohibit unfair or deceptive trade practices (such as false ad­vertising) and can take legal action to stop such prac­tices.

Fourth, Congress passes laws and agencies issue rules to improve the operation of the marketplace. In many instances, these laws and rules are designed to give consumers better information about products. For example, in 1992, Congress passed the Nutrition Labelling and Education Act. This law requires that all food product labels list ingredients and nutritional in­formation in a form that most people will be able to understand. With this information, consumers will be able to make smarter choices.

Fifth, a new federal law, the Americans with Dis­abilities Act (ADA), protects consumers against discrimination on the basis of disability. Under the ADA, consumers who are disabled must have equal access to goods and services. Consumers who are disabled include but are not limited to persons who are blind, are deaf, or have a physical disability requiring them to use a wheelchair. The ADA covers all establishments that are generally open to the public. These include grocery, clothing, and hardware stores, as well as laun­dromats, hair salons, and gas stations.

What does it mean to say that consumers with dis­abilities must have equal access? It means that busi­nesses must make reasonable accommodations to en­sure that their goods and services are available to per­sons who are disabled. One accommodation you may have noticed is a ramp that would allow persons using wheelchairs to enter a restaurant that has several steps leading to the entrance. The ADA requires busi­nesses to accommodate the needs of persons with dis­abilities as long as the accommodation is readily achievable. This means that business persons must ; undertake accommodations that are easy to do and not excessively expensive.

State Law

States also have consumer protection laws and agencies. Many of these laws prohibit unfair and de­ceptive trade practices. Such laws are often similar to the Federal Trade Commission Act. State laws allow consumers to bring complaints into state court and before state agencies. They also enable agencies, such as the state attorney general's office or the state of­fice of consumer affairs, to sue on behalf of consumers in order to halt illegal practices. In some cases, con­sumers can join together to bring class actions, which allow one or more persons to bring suit on behalf of a larger group.

Like federal consumer protection laws, state laws give the government power not only to stop unfair and deceptive practices but also to provide consum­ers with a variety of remedies. A remedy makes up for harm that has been done. Remedies include cease and desist orders, by which an agency can require a busi­ness to stop a forbidden practice; consent decrees, which are voluntary agreements to end a practice that is claimed to be illegal; and restitution, which is an or­der to refund or repay any money illegally obtained.

Local Law

Cities and counties may also have consumer pro­tection laws. These laws have been passed to deal with specific consumer issues that have arisen at a local level. For example, some cities have "truth-in-menus" laws.

Under these laws, if the menu reads "fresh swordfish," the restaurant cannot serve swordfish that has been frozen.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

защитить потребителя, запретить нечестную торговлю, неправильная маркировка, установить стандарты, продажа вредных для здоровья товаров, дать потребителю информацию о товаре, список ингредиентов и информация о калорийности, инва­лиды, иметь равный доступ, преследовать по суду от имени покупателя, остановить незаконную прак­тику, предъявить иск от имени больших групп, приказ о прекращении деятельности, обоюдное со­гласие, возмещение убытков, на местном уровне, закон о правдивом меню

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. How do laws protect consumers?

2. What special commission is concerned with unfair or deceptive trade practices?

3. Why is it necessary to know the ingredients and nutrition of products?

4. What information should consumers have about the goods before deciding whether or not to buy them?

5. How are the rights of disabled people protected? Is it the same in Russia? Give your examples.

6. How does state law protect consumers?

7. Can cities have C9nsumer protection law? What for?

8. What is "truth-in-menus" law?

9. Are there any laws that protect consumers in Russia? What laws do you know?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

The Cheap Vacation Home

David and Michel Cole were reading the newspa­per after dinner one night when the phone rang. A pleasant-sounding person on the other end of the line told them that people in their community had a chance to purchase brand-new vacation homes for only $15,000. The homes were located in a beautiful wood­ed setting just two hours by car from where the Cole family lived. In order to take advantage of this very low price, the seller said, the Coles had to make a 20% down payment. The rest of the money could be paid over the next 10 years with no interest at all.

The Coles had been thinking about buying a little place away from the city for brief weekend escapes, and this deal seemed too good to be true. They gave the seller their credit card number for the down pay­ment. The seller promised to send literature about the dream home. Unfortunately, the literature never ar­rived. When the Coles complained to their state's of­fice of consumer affairs, they found that others in their community had been tricked too. Fortunately, a thor­ough investigation enabled authorities to locate the persons responsible for this fraudulent sales scheme.

 

a. What remedies could the office of consumer af­fairs ask for?

b. What steps could the Cole family have taken ini­tially to avoid this problem?  

c. Draft a law that would reduce the chances that this situation would happen again.

 

5. Role-plays.

Situations: 

1. David Cole is speaking to a pleasant-sounding person on the phone.

2. The Coles are discussing the deal.

3. The Coles are at the state's office of consumer affairs.

 

Read and translate the dialogue.

 

People in Law	Cases in Great Britain. Judges in Great Britain.
Narrator:	The Magistrate talks about the sort of people who come before him.
Magistrate:	I would say that a very large proportion of the people who come before courts are in some way or other inadequate.
Interviewer:	I see.
Magistrate:	They've never fully grown up emotionally.
Interviewer:	I see.
Magistrate:	And they react to a situation rather as a child would react to it. I think the overwhelming impression is that of people who really do need some help in one way or another...
Interviewer:	Yes... not necessarily punishment...
Magistrate:	Not necessarily punishment at all!
Interviewer:	I see.
Magistrate:	You see... one constantly sees in the newspapers or hears on the television and else where that the people say that criminals are molly-coddled...
Interviewer:	Yes... they have their...
Magistrate:	which has...
Interviewer:	given too soft... The treatment that is given to them is too soft, yes.
Magistrate:	Much too soft! And this is the general public reaction. Why should you spend money on these worthless people when there're other people who also need help?
Interviewer:	People who haven't committed crimes.
Magistrate:	Yes, but whereas as a nation I think we' re very sympathetic with people who have physical disabilities.
Interviewer:	I see.
Magistrate:	I think we' re insufficiently concerned with those who have emotional and intellectual shortcomings.

 

1. Retell the dialogue in indirect speech.

 

2. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

advertising	the assertion of a right to money or property
bill of rights	ban
claim	non-personal communication of information, visually paid for and persuasive in nature, about products or ideas by identified sponsors through various media
complaint	not authorized by law
illegal	the first ten amendments (additions or changes) to the Constitution, which guarantee basic rights to all United States citizens
protect	initial document entered by the plaintiff which states the claim against the defendant
prohibit	keep-safe

 

3. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Законы запрещают нечестную торговлю или вводящую в заблуждение рекламу, продажу вредных для здоровья товаров.

2. Если продавец не соблюдает установленных стандартов качества,, безопасности и надежности товаров и услуг, против него может быть начат судебный процесс.

3. Федеральные законы устанавливают стандарты на качество, безопасность и надежность многих товаров и услуг. При несоблюдении этих стандартов продавец может быть привлечен к ответственности.

4. Закон требует, чтобы на ярлыках продуктов давалась полная информация об ингредиентах и пищевой ценности.

5. Потребители, которые имеют какую-либо инвалидность, должны иметь равные возможности при покупке товаров или использовании услуг.

6.  Агенства по защите прав потребителя могут предъявлять иск от имени групп покупателей.

7. Законы позволяют не только остановить незаконную практику торговли, но и предоставляют потребителям разнообразные средства судебной защиты.

8. Некоторые города имеют свои законы. Например, закон о правдивом меню. В соответствии с этим законом информация, приводимая в меню, должна соответствовать реальности.

 

UNIT 5

Read and translate the text.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE BUYING

Consumers can have a wide variety of problems. The following section will help you avoid some of these problems and will explain how to deal with difficulties that may arise.

Generally, making large purchases on impulse is not wise. When shopping for products or services, learn as much as possible about them before buying. Careful consumers always compare prices and products before buying. This is called comparison shopping. They purchase the product only after considering other products that could also meet their needs.

For major purchases, careful shoppers go to the li­brary and read about competing brands in consumer publications. Your librarian can point these out to you. You should also speak with your friends to get recom­mendations about products.

Once you have determined what product you need, you may discover that it is available at more than one store in your community. Especially for important purchases, it makes good sense to buy from a store with a good reputation. Your local Better Business Bureau (BBB), listed in your telephone directory, can tell you if there have been complaints about a partic­ular store. If you are making a purchase from a store that is not in your community, check with the BBB located in the same community as the seller.

Several kinds of policies may differ among stores. For some products, there may be additional charges for de­livery, installation, and service. A price that seems lower at one store may really be higher once extra charges have been added on. Also check on the store's return policy. A very low price at a store where all sales are final may not turn out to be such a good deal if you decide that you are unhappy with the product once you have it in your home. Sometimes a shopper may even spend a little more mon­ey to purchase an item from a store with an outstanding reputation for service or the ability to deliver the item quickly and install it free of charge.

Before making a purchase, you will want to read the warranty (also known as the guarantee) careful­ly. Different manufacturers and stores may provide different warranty coverage on very similar products. When studying the warranty, be sure to find out what you must do and what the store or manufacturer must do if you have a problem with the product. A warran­ty that requires you to ship a broken product to a far­away place for repair at your expense may not be of much value to you.

If you are required to sign a contract as part of the purchase, be sure that you read and understand the entire contract and that all blanks have been filled in before you sign. If you have trouble understanding the contract, ask the store for permission to take the contract to someone who can help you understand it before you sign it. You may not want to deal with a store that will not let you do this.

Finally, do not believe everything you hear from the seller. Later you will learn more about "puffing," or seller's talk. Just because a seller says "This is a real bargain!" does not make it true. You have to deter­mine whether it is a bargain through careful shopping.

 

ADVICE

• Things to Consider Before Making a Purchase
• Determine exactly what product or service you need.
• Compare brands. Read about various brands and ask friends for recommendations.
• Compare stores. Check out a store's reputation.
• Find out if there are extra charges. Learn about the store's policy regarding exchanges or refunds.
• Read and compare warranties.
• Read and understand the contract.
• Determine the total purchase price.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:    

осторожный покупатель, соответствовать, за­продам, торговые марки конкурентов, крупные покупки, определить, какой: товар вам нужен, быть в наличии, дополнительные издержки, доставить неисправный товар за свой счет, гарантийные обяза­тельства, заполнить пропуски, удачная покупка

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What problems can consumers have?

2. Why isn't it wise to make large purchases on impulse?

3. Where can you get the information about the product you need before buying it?

4. How should you choose the shop?

5. What extra charges can be added on the price?

6. How do return policies differ in different stores?

7. What should you take into consideration when studying the warranty?

8. What can you do if you have to sign the contract, but you don't understand some points? Why
can't you sign it if there are still some blanks?

9. Can we believe everything we hear from the seller?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

Read and translate the dialogue.

Narrator:	The Magistrate describes a serious easel he had recently, in which it was difficult to decide what to do.
Magistrate:	We had one forgery case...rather a pathetic one of um... of a woman who um.. .stole some-body else's post office savings book, and took... the money. It was a difficult case...
Interviewer:	She went to the post office...
Magistrate:	Went to the post office and signed in somebody else's name and got the money and was caught. Now she was a woman with several children and very considerable domestic problems, and I would say an inadequate housewife. But on the other hand she had taken this savings book from an old age pen­sioner. We put her on probation. She was already se­riously in debt everywhere. She couldn't possibly pay a fine. If we had sent her to prison, for example, it would have meant that all the children would have to be looked after by somebody else...
Interviewer:	I see.
Magistrate:	And the evidence was that within her lights — within her limits — she was a good mother and tried her best...
Interviewer:	Her best with children... Magistrate: Her best wasn't quite good enough.

 

1. Answer the questions:

1. What exactly had the woman done? Give details.

2. What do you learn about the woman herself?

3. He could have sent her to prison or fined her. Did he?

4. What finally happened to the woman?

6. What were the reasons for this?

 

2. Retell the dialogue in indirect speech.

 

3. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

charge	guarantee or promise made by a seller or manufacturer concerning the quality or performance of goods offered for sale
on impulse	an exaggerated statement as to the desirability of a product service
comparison shopping	spontaneously
warranty	compare prices and products before buying
puffing	formal accusation of having committed a criminal offence
store	on sale
available	hор

 

4. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Неразумно делать большие покупки, предварительно не подумав.

2. Осторожные покупатели всегда сравнивают цены на продукты в разных магазинах перед покупкой.

3. Вы также можете найти информацию о товаре в библиотеке или получить рекомендации друзей.

4. Крупные покупки лучше делать в магазинах с хорошей репутацией.

5. Магазины могут предоставлять разные виды услуг. На некоторые товары устанавливаются дополнительные надбавки за доставку, установку и обслуживание.

6. Покупка может оказаться неудачной, если из-за низкой цены её нельзя вернуть в магазин.

7. Иногда покупатели готовы заплатить чуть больше за товар, если магазин имеет отличную ре­путацию и товары доставляются и устанавливаются быстро и бесплатно.

8. Разные производители и магазины предоставляют разные гарантийные условия на одни и те же товары.

9. Если по условиям гарантии вы должны сами доставить неисправный товар в удаленное от вас место для ремонта за ваш счёт, следует воздержаться от покупки.

10. Если вы должны подписать контракт, прочти­те его внимательно. Если вам что-то непонятно в условиях контракта, попросите дать его вам для получения разъяснений до его подписания.

 

5. Role-play.

1. You are a careful consumer but you friend is not. You both are going to buy a washing machine and he/she doesn't want to spend a lot of time on it. Try to persuade him/her.

2. You failed to convince your friend to make some necessary steps before buying the washing machine. Now he/she is facing some problems. Discuss them.

 

6. Problem-solving.

You and a friend are planning a summer bicycle trip across your state. You own a very old one-speed bicycle and have decided to shop for a new one to use on this trip. List all the ways you would gather infor­mation before making this purchase.

Has your city or county passed any consumer pro­tection laws giving you greater protection than you already had under state and federal laws? If so, what do these laws cover? How are they enforced?

Why does a smart consumer compare shops before buying a bicycle?

 

UNIT 6

Read and translate the text.

WHAT TO DO AFTER BUYING

Sometimes even careful shoppers have problems. When this happens, it is important to remain calm and be persistent. Often, smart consumers can solve their own problems. When they can't, it is very likely that an agency or organization in their community will be able to provide the needed help.

The first thing to do after buying a product is to inspect it. If you do not receive the exact product you purchased or if some defect reduces its value to you, take it back to the seller and ask for a replacement or refund.

In addition, you should always read and follow the instructions provided and use the product only as rec­ommended by the manufacturer. If the instructions are unclear or seem incomplete, contact the seller. Misuse of a product may be dangerous and may also cancel your legal rights! Be sure to report any prob­lem with a product as soon as possible. Trying to fix the product yourself could cancel the warranty.

If you experience a problem with a product, you should always try to contact the seller first. All con­tacts should be in writing or documented in a log or journal. Reputable business people are interested in a customer's future business, and most problems and misunderstandings can be cleared up with a face-to-face discussion or a telephone call.

Provide the seller with all the necessary informa­tion — identify the item (including model and serial number), give the date and location of purchase, de­scribe when and how the problem arose, and explain what you want done. Be sure to bring along along your sales receipt, warranty, or other pertinent information. Be polite but firm. If the seller refuses to help or gives you the runaround, send a written complaint to the owner or store manager. Mention that you will take other measures if you do not receive satisfaction with­in a reasonable amount of time. Be sure to date the letter and include your name, address, and a phone number where you can be reached during regular working hours. Keep a copy of the letter along with any response for your records. To complete your records, make notes about any conversations you had with the seller. Include promises made, if any, and the date of the conversation.

If the seller still refuses to help you, consider con­tacting the product's manufacturer. If you don't know the name of the manufacturer, ask your librarian for the Thomas Registry of American Manufacturers, a volume listing thousands of products and their manu­facturers. If the seller is part of a chain store, consider writing to the corporate headquarters of the store. If you don't know the address of the manufacturer or the corporate headquarters, go to your local library and look it up in Standard and Poor's Register of Cor­porations.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

быть настойчивым, обеспечить необходимую помощь, потребовать замену товара или возврат де­нег, неправильное использование, непонятная инструкция, попытка самостоятельно отремонтиро­вать, непонимание, связаться с продавцом, торго­вый чек, бизнесмены с хорошей репутацией, бесе­да при встрече, дата и место покупки, письменная жалоба, принять меры, штаб-квартира корпорации

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is it important to do when any problem happens?

2. Who can provide the needed help if you fail to do it yourself?

3. Why should you always read and follow the instructions provided?

4. What can trying to fix the product yourself cancel?

5. What information should you provide the sell­er with?

6. Why is it necessary to make notes about any conversations you have with the seller?

7. What else can you do if the seller refuses to  help?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

ADVICE

Tips on Writing a Consumer Letter of Complaint

• Include your name, address, phone number(s), and account number, if appropriate.
• Be brief and to the point. Don't be sarcastic or angry.
• Include all important facts: date and place of pur­chase and information identifying the product (for example, model and serial number).
• Explain the problem, what you have done about it, and what you want to have done.
• Include copies of documents relating to your problem (for example, sales receipt). Do not send originals.
• Consider sending copies to your local and state consumer protection organizations.
• Keep a copy of whatever you send.
• Type the letter if possible. If this is not possible, print it neatly.
• Consider mailing the letter from your post office and paying the extra charge for requesting a return receipt. This receipt will be signed by the company when it receives your letter and then returned to you. If you wind up in court with your problem, the receipt is your proof that the company knew of the problem.
• Many companies have consumer affairs departments, but you may get faster action by writing directly to the company president. State the facts clear ly. Send photocopies of any important documents (such as canceled checks and past letters to the seller). Describe the problem. Explain what you've tried to do about it and what you want the company to do. Consider sending copies of your letter to local and state consumer protection organizations and to your local Better Business Bureau.

If you are still dissatisfied, it may be time to seek outside help. Many agencies and organizations may be able to help you. These groups are discussed in the next section. Above all, don't give up if you feel you have a valid complaint.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Terry and Martha Tubman saw a newspaper ad for major-brand color TV sets on sale at Tally's Radio & TV Shop. They rushed down to Tally's, where they bought a 21-inch model for $435. Several weeks later, the TV completely lost its picture. A TV service me­chanic who came to their home told them that the pic­ture tube had blown and that repairs would cost $200. The next morning, Terry and Martha returned to the store and asked to speak to Mr. Foxx, the salesperson who had sold them the TV.

 

1. Role-play the meeting between the Tubmans and Mr. Foxx. What should the Tubmans say, and what should Mr. Foxx say?

2. If Mr. Foxx refuses to help, what should the Tubmans do? If they decide to write a letter of complaint, to whom should they send it? Make a checklist of in formation needed in the letter. Write a letter for the Tubmans.

3. What should the Tubmans do if they get no re­sponse to their letter?

ADVICE

How to Make a Complaint

• Gather all the key facts. Save all important docu­ments (such as warranties, bills, canceled checks, and repair estimates).
• Give the seller a chance to correct the problem.
• If this doesn't work, contact the manufacturer of the product or the store's headquarters (if it's a chain).
• If you still aren't satisfied, take your complaint to a consumer protection agency, a media faction line," or a small claims court. You may also wish to contact an attorney at this point.

 

Read and translate the dialogues.

 

№ 1

Narrator:	The Magistrate describes two less serious cases. In both of them it was easier to decide what to do.
Magistrate:	There were two people charged with stealing from shops.
Interviewer:	Shoplifting.
Magistrate:	Shoplifting it's called.
Interviewer:	Yes, women were they or?...
Magistrate:	Both women...
Interviewer:	I see.
Magistrate:	On this particular occasion. One-was er... I think rather an old and pathetic person, but, she was really rather confused and there was evidence that she'd been given sleeping pills by her doctor. No­body knew how many she'd taken or how confused she was. In any case she had no previous convictions, so we put her on probation. The other one was a wom­an whom we felt quite convinced had set out on a de­liberate expedition knowing perfectly well what she was doing, with no question of confusion of mind or anything of that kind, and she was fined 20 pounds.

 

Answer the questions:

1. The two women were both the same in one way. In what way?

2. How does the Magistrate describe the first woman?

3. What exactly does he say about "sleeping pills" in her case?

4. What did he do with her and why?

5. What was different about the second woman?

6. What happened to her?

 

№2

Narrator:	Magistrate says why he gives help in some cases and punishment in others.
Interviewer:	Are there ever times when you just feel...desperate, you know you realize, there's abso­lutely nothing that can be done for this person?
Magistrate:	Oh, yes, very often.
Interviewer:	Hm.. .and what do you do in such cases?
Magistrate:	Well, it depends on how anti-social their action has been.
Interviewer:	Interviewer: I see.
Magistrate:	If a person...needs help one wants to give it to him or her, but on the other hand you...also have to consider at the same time the effect on society in general of too much kindness to too many people.
Interviewer:	You mean if such a person were left free he might cause far more trouble to other people than he would cause to himself while he's inside prison.
Magistrate:	Yes, indeed. And also if people were never punished, I think undoubtedly crime would in­crease.

 

Answer the questions:

1. Why does the Magistrate feel desperate sometimes?

2. What does he have to consider when he sees that someone needs help?

3. What would happen if some people were left free?

4. What does he say would happen if people were never punished?

 

Retell the dialogues in indirect speech.

 

1. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

replacement	repair
refund	goods sent in place of those which were damaged
fix	a written acknowledgment by a receiver of money, goods, etc., that payment has been made
provide	relating to the matter at hand; relevant
receipt	give back money
pertinent	give
corporate	any centre or building from which ope­rations are directed
headquarters	belonging to a united group; joint

 

2. Translate the following sentences into English:

 

1. Если покупатели не могут сами разрешить свои проблемы, они обращаются в специальные агент­ства или организации.

2. Если купленный товар имеет дефекты, отнесите его назад продавцу и потребуйте замены или возврата денег.        

3. Всегда используйте товар только так, как ука­зано в инструкции. Если инструкция неполная, свя­житесь с продавцом. Неправильное использование товара может быть опасно. 4. Попытка самостоятель­но отремонтировать товар может привести к отка­зу продавца выполнять гарантийные обязательст­ва. При возникновении любых проблем с куплен­ным товаром необходимо прежде всего связаться с продавцом.

5. Предоставьте продавцу всю необходимую ин­формацию о товаре.

6. Если продавец отказывается помочь, пошли­те письменную жалобу владельцу магазина или менеджеру.

7. В случае, когда продавец не может помочь, свя­житесь с производителем товара.

 

UNIT 7

Read and translate the text.

CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

Your telephone directory can save you hours in dealing with consumer protection agencies and orga­nizations. Check the beginning of the white pages of your directory for information about local communi­ty resources that can help. Many directories also have a section in the middle of the book that provides a comprehensive listing of government agencies. Look in that section under "Consumer and Regulatory Agencies" to find the phone numbers of organizations that can help you with a consumer problem.

Some places have arbitration programs to help with consumer complaints. These programs arbitrate dis­putes between buyers and sellers who have not been able to settle a problem. If you choose to use this ser­vice, be sure to ask for and read a copy of the rules before you file your case. In some instances, the deci­sion of the arbitrators is binding on both the business and the consumer; in others, only on the business; and in still others, on neither party. The party bound by the decision usually agrees not to pursue any other remedy, such as going to court.

Consumer Groups. Many private organizations help consumers. National organizations such as the Consumer Federation of America and the Consumers 1 Union educate consumers and lobby for passage of consumer protection legislation. Private state and lo­cal consumer groups may give advice, investigate complaints, contact sellers, try to arrange settlements, and make legal referrals. To find these organizations, contact a local university, your state attorney gener­al's office, or a member of your city council. You should also check the phone book under both "Consumer" and "Public Interest Organizations."

Business and Trade Associations. One of the best-known consumer help organizations is the Better Busi­ness Bureau (BBB). Better Business Bureaus are sup­ported by private businesses; they are not govern­ment agencies. While BBBs have no law enforcement power, they do monitor business activity and try to promote high standards of business ethics. In many places, the BBB investigates consumer complaints, contacts the company involved, and tries to mediate a settlement. Reasonable complaints can often be set­tled with the BBB's help, but BBBs usually act only as mediators and do not force a business to settle.

Media. Many local newspapers as well as radio and television stations have special "action line" or "con­sumer affairs" services that help consumers. Publici­ty is a powerful weapon, and many consumers find that they can settle problems simply by contacting, or even threatening to contact, the media. To use these services, check with your local newspaper, radio and television stations, or library.

Professional Associations. Many business and pro­fessional people belong to associations that act on be­half of the entire profession or occupation. While such an association may have no legal enforcement powers over its members, a consumer complaint may result in pressure on, or dismissal of, the offending member. For example, if you have a complaint against an at­torney, you can contact the American Bar Associa­tion or the bar association for your city or state.

State and Local Government. All states and many local governments have consumer protection groups that deal with everything from regulating public util­ities to making sure you get a fair deal when you have your car repaired. These groups are often located within the state attorney general's office, consumer affairs bureau, consumer protection agency, public advocate's office, or public utilities commission.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

защита потребителя, арбитраж, разрешать раз­ногласия в арбитражном суде, уладить проблему, передавать дело в суд, расследовать жалобы, сле­дить за деловой активностью, поддерживать высо­кие стандарты деловой этики, являться посредни­ком, сильное оружие, действовать от имени, ком­мунальные услуги

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. How can you get in touch with consumer pro­tection agencies and organizations?

2. What are the functions of arbitration pro­grams?

3. Why is it necessary to read a copy of the rules before you file your case?   

4. What is the decision of the arbitrators binding on?

5. What private organizations help consumers?

6. What do Better Business Bureaus do? Are they government agencies? How do they promote high standards of business ethics?

7. Do you agree that publicity is a powerful weap­on? Give your examples.

8. In what ways can professional associations help consumers?

9. Are there any consumer protection agencies and organizations in Russia? What do you know about their activities?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Choose a service that you or your family has used (such as medical care, legal aid, or auto repair).

1. Is there a professional association, licensing board, or other agency that could assist you if you had a problem with this service?

2. What steps must a consumer take to register a complaint with this agency or association?

3. What power does this agency have?

 

5.Problem-solving.

Look through the list of Federal Consumer Pro­tection Agencies and solve the problems given below.

Office of Consumer Affairs — conducts consumer education and is a good first contact in the federal sys­tem because it can refer you to an agency that can help.

Federal Trade Commission — is the federal gov­ernment's main consumer protection agency. It acts to prevent unfair or deceptive trade practices as well as problems with bills, credit, and warranties.

Food and Drug Administration — regulates the safety of food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices through a testing program. It can order unsafe prod­ucts off the market.

Consumer Product Safety Commission — makes and enforces safety standards for many consumer products. It can ban, seize, or require warnings for unsafe products.

U.S. Postal Service — investigates mail fraud.

Department of Transportation—has various con­sumer protection offices within the department to set standards for safe air, rail, bus, and auto travel and to handle complaints from passengers.

 

A list of consumer problems follows. What federal agency could help with each of the problems? Could a local or state agency be helpful with any of the prob­lems? If so, which agency?

a. Your parents are considering buying an exercise bicycle and are concerned that it might be dangerous to your younger brother.

b. You buy an airline ticket to visit a college campus for an interview. When you arrive at the airport, you find that the plane is already full. You miss your inter­ view.

c. A friend has lost an arm in a serious accident. Her doctor is planning surgery that will involve use of a new type of artificial limb. You want to learn more about the safety of this product.

d. A vocational school in your community runs an advertisement that promises job placement for every graduate. You are suspicious about this claim.

 

6. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

legislation	make a systematic examination or study
investigate	settlement of a dispute by the decision of a person or persons chosen and accepted as judges
promote	laws enacted by lawmaking body
lobby	Better Business Bureau
arbitration	help to organize
BBB	group of persons joined together for some common purpose
association	influence or persuade legislators to take action to introduce a bill or vote a certain way

 

7. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Многие частные организации помогают поку­пателям при возникновении проблем.

2. Такие организации, как Федерация потребителей Америки и Союз потребителей, информируют покупателей об их правах и лоббируют принятие законов о защите прав потребителей.    

3. Частные объединения потребителей могут дать совет, расследовать жалобы, связаться с продавцами, попытаться уладить дело или передать дело в суд.

4. Одна из самых известных потребительских организаций — Бюро Улучшения Бизнеса, поддержи­ваемое частным бизнесом.

5. Многие местные газеты, радио- и телевизионные станции имеют "горячие линии" для помощи потребителям.

6. Потребители часто могут решить свои проблемы, связавшись (или просто пригрозив связаться) со средствами массовой информации.

7. Существуют профессиональные ассоциации, жалоба потребителя в которые может привести к оказанию давления или даже увольнению члена ас­социации.

8. Можно обратиться в местные органы защиты прав потребителя, которые занимаются всеми слу­чаями нечестной торговли.

 

UNIT 8

Read and translate the text.

TAKING YOUR CASE TO COURT

Suppose you can't settle your complaint and a con­sumer agency has been unable to help. Sometimes your complaint may form the basis for a criminal ac­tion against the seller. Furthermore, whether or not a crime is involved, you may wish to take your case to civil court. Anyone can go to court. Minors can sue through their parents or guardians.

Criminal Court. In some cases, a seller's action may be a crime. Such acts can be prosecuted as criminal fraud. Criminal fraud occurs when a salesperson knowingly misstates or misrepresents some important fact, with the intent to defraud you, resulting in harm.

For example, assume you contract with a builder to construct a deck on your home. You pay the builder several thousand dollars to purchase the necessary materials. However, the builder doesn't intend to build the deck. He simply uses the scheme to take your money. In such a case, you're the victim of a crime. You should contact the police or your local prosecu­tor. Cases like this can be prosecuted by the govern­ment in criminal court. State laws not only provide a fine or jail term (or both) for a convicted defendant but may also require that the defendant pay back the defrauded consumer.

Civil Court. If a civil dispute involves a large amount of money, the case will be brought in the local civil trial court. Taking a case to court can be costly and time-consuming. In some places, though, free or low-cost legal services may be available to consumers who cannot afford an attorney.

In civil court, you can ask for a number of different remedies. First, you can sue for damages, money that a court orders paid to a person who has suffered a loss or an injury. For example, if you are injured by a de­fective power drill, you can ask for money for a new drill, medical expenses, time lost from your job, and other related costs.

A second remedy is rescission and restitution. When you ask the court for this remedy, you ask it to cancel the contract (rescission) and order the person you are suing to give back any money you have al­ready paid (restitution). This releases you from any further performance under the contract, but you will have to return any benefit already received under the contract. Assume, for example, that you sign a con­tract to purchase a set of pots and pans and that a pan melts the first time it is exposed to a direct flame. In such a case, you might seek rescission and restitution. You would get your money back and would have no further obligations under the contract. However, you would have to return the pots and pans.

The third civil remedy is specific performance. Here, you ask the court to order the seller to carry out the specific terms of the agreement. For example, if you ordered goods that were never delivered, the court could order the company to deliver the goods. However, you would still have to pay for them.

A suit for damages or specific performance is de­signed to place you in approximately the position you would have been in if the contract had been success­fully completed. A suit for rescission and restitution is designed to return both the buyer and the seller to the positions they were in before the contract began.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

мошенничество, преднамеренно неверно пред­ставлять, использовать махинацию с целью полу­чить ваши деньги, срок тюремного заключения, до­рогостоящий и отнимающий много времени, бесплат­ные или недорогие юридические услуги, возбуждать дело за причиненный ущерб, расторжение контрак­та, по контракту, исполнение договора в натуре

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What do you do if you can't settle your complaint and a consumer agency has been unable to help?

2. When do you take your case to civil court?

3. How can minors sue?

4. What is criminal fraud? Give your own exam­ples.

5. When are cases brought in the local civil trial court? Is it expensive?

6. What remedies can you ask for in civil court? Characterize each of them.

7. What is a suit for damages or specific perfor­mance designed for?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Each of the following consumers has a problem. If the consumer has to go to court in each matter, what is the best remedy? Why? Could any of these situations result in a criminal prosecution? Why?

a. Jeanine takes a floor-length dress that originally belonged to her mother to the dry cleaner. When she picks it up, she finds several holes in it. The store claims the holes were there when the garment was brought in. Jeanine is certain that they are the result of the cleaning.

b. The Gonzales family hires the Weedout Chemi­cal Company to spray their lawn twice a month during May, June, July, and August. Weedout sends a monthly bill. By June 10, Weedout has not yet sprayed, although it sent a bill in May, which the Gonzales family paid. Weedout is behind schedule with its spraying because there is a great demand for its product, a successful new formula not yet available from other local companies.

c. Sergio, a college student, has a summer job sell­ing books door to door. He is paid a commission on ev­ery book sold. To make extra money, he uses phony order forms. The top page is a receipt for the sale of one book. The copy beneath, which has its signature line in exactly the same place as the top copy, includes an agreement to purchase another book every month for two additional months.

In June, Mr. and Mrs. Joiner pay $12 for a book. The next month, Sergio returns with another $12 book and asks for payment. The Joiners say they never agreed to buy the second book. Sergio shows them the receipt with their signature. The Joiners have not kept their copy of the receipt. Reluctantly, they pay for the second book. Later, they discover that several neighbors are in the same situation.

 

5. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

sue for damage	a person who starts legal proceedings
fraud	long
prosecutor	cancellation of the contract
costly	make a legal claim for loss or injury
rescission	criminal deception
restitution	a fixed period in public prison
attorney	ask the court to order the seller to carry out the specific terms of the agreement
benefit	a person with legal authority to act for another in law
jail term	order the person you are suing to give back any money you have already paid
time-consuming	expensive
specific performance	profit

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Ваша жалоба может служить основанием для возбуждения уголовного дела против продавца.

2. Несовершеннолетние могут возбуждать дело через своих родителей или опекунов.

3. Некоторые бизнесмены используют разные махинации с целью получить Ваши деньги.

4. Законы не только обеспечивают выплату штрафа, но также обязуют выплатить пострадав­шему причитающуюся сумму.

5. Рассмотрение дела в суде может стоить доро­го и отнять много времени.

6. Если Вы пострадали из-за неисправного быто­вого прибора, Вы можете потребовать деньги на приобретение нового прибора, оплаты медицин­ских расходов, выплат за время, которое вы отутствовали на работе, и так далее.

7. Вы можете потребовать расторжения кон­ тракта и возмещения ущерба.

 

UNIT 9

Read and translate the text.

SMALL CLAIMS COURT

Is there a small claims court in your community? If so, where is it located? What is the filing fee? What is the largest amount of money that can be awarded? Are lawyers permitted in this court?

Small Claims Court In the early 20^th century, court reformers recognized that the typical civil court was too slow, expensive, and complicated for many minor cases. These reformers proposed a "People's Court" designed to give citizens their day in court for small claims.

Today, every state has a small claims court, where you can sue for small amounts of money. The maxi­mum award varies depending on the state. Filing a suit in small claims court is very inexpensive. Attorneys are not required (in some states they are not allowed), and there are few time-consuming delays. Filing a suit in small claims court involves three general steps.

First, call or go to the local courthouse to discuss your case with the court clerk. The clerk will be able to determine if the court can handle your claim. If so, you'll be required to fill out some forms and pay a small filing fee (from $2 to $15). To fill out the forms, known as a complaint or statement of claim, you'll be asked for the name and address of the party you are suing, the reason for your complaint, and the amount you are asking for. The amount you ask for should be based on the loss you incurred.

Second, prepare for your case in advance. In most states, the court will notify the defendant of the date and place of the hearing. In the meantime, you should gather all the evidence necessary to present your case. This includes receipts, letters, canceled checks, sales slips and estimates of repair. If a defective product is involved, be sure to bring it along, if possible. Contact all witnesses to be sure they come to court. Uncooper­ative witnesses can be subpoenaed. This means they can be ordered to appear in court. If you have time, visit the court before your hearing so you'll know what to expect. Also, practice presenting your case to a friend beforehand.

Third, be on time for court on the date scheduled for the hearing. If for any reason you can't make it, call the court clerk to ask for a postponement called a continuance. Once your hearing begins, the judge will ask you to tell your story. Do this by presenting your facts, witnesses, and any evidence you may have. Don't get emotional. Be prepared for questions from the judge. After both sides have presented their sto­ries, the judge will make a decision.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

суд мелких тяжб, стоимость подачи заявки, за­держка, служащий суда, разбирать судебное дело, заполнить анкеты, нести потери, подготовиться за­ранее, слушание дела, свидетели, не желающие со­трудничать, откладывание слушания, вынести ре­шение

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What are small claims courts?

2. What do you know about their history?

3. Why was it necessary to open them?

4. What cases do they handle?

5. Are there such courts in Russia?

6. Is filing a suit in small claims court expensive?

7. Are attorneys in small claims courts required?

8. What are three general steps for filing a suit in small claims court?

9. How can you prepare for your case in advance?

10. What does all the evidence necessary include?

11. What can happen to uncooperative witnesses?

12. What should you do if for any reason you can't be on time for court on the date scheduled for the hearing?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

a. What would you do if you were notified that you were being sued in small claims court for failing to pay a bill? What would happen if you ignored the notice or did not show up in court?

b. Do you think small claims courts should follow normal court rules? Should lawyers be allowed? Why or why not?

 

5. Role play.

Roles: 1. Victim.

You want to apply to small claims court (think why). Roleplay the three general steps and present your case in court.

2. Court clerk.

Help the applicant to fill out the forms and give necessary advice.

1. Uncooperative witnesses.

First you don't agree to go to the court (give your rea­sons), then you are ordered to go and give the evidence.

2.  Friend.

Listen to your friend's presentation before he/she does it in the court and give advice.

3.  Judge.

Listen to the presentation of the case, to the wit­nesses, ask questions and make decision.

 

Read and translate the text.

DECEPTIVE SALES PRACTICES

Most sellers are honest, but some are not. A few use deceptive or unfair sales techniques. As a result, con­sumers must learn to recognize and avoid deceptive sales practices.

EASY MONEY. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were strug­gling to make ends meet and to feed their family of five. They decided that they needed to borrow mon­ey to meet their expenses for the month. They con­sidered going to a bank for a loan, but they knew they had poor credit histories, and they didn't want to be paying off interest over a long period of time.

They were very interested when they read the fol­lowing ad in the newspaper:

EASY MONEY: Are you having trouble making ends meet? Do you need a short-term loan just to get you through a rough time? We offer quick loans to anyone regardless of credit background. No interest payments. Just a nominal processing fee. CALL TODAY!!

The offer sounded too good to be true. But although the Johnsons were skeptical, they called. The opera­tor said she would be happy to offer them a no-inter­est loan of $2,000 repayable in six easy monthly in­stallments. All the Johnsons had to do was to pay a one-time $200 fee that the company would use to pro­cess the paperwork.

The Johnsons did not have to meet anybody from the loan company, and nobody bothered them at their home. They scraped together the $200 and sent Easy Money, Inc. a money order.

When they had not received their money in three weeks, they began to worry. They again called the number listed in the paper, but the line had been dis­connected. Finally, after, two additional weeks, they realized they were not going to get their loan and would never see the "processing fee" again.

 

1. Problem-solving.

a. Did any unfair or deceptive practices take place in the Johnsons' story? Explain.

b. What could the Johnsons have done to prevent their loss?

c. What can they do now? Can any state or federal agencies help them?

d. How can merchants and consumers use small claims court?

2. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

community	payment
filing	question to be decided in a law court
complicated	deal with
clerk	application
minor	statement of claim
handle	district
fee	trial of a case at law
complaint	anything that proves sth
case	less important
incur	a person who gives evidence in a law court
evidence	difficult
postponement	a person employed to keep records and accounts, copy letters etc.
hearing	ordered to appear in court
subpoenaed	public officer with authority to hear and decide cases in a law court
witness	bring upon oneself
judge	continuance

 

3. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. В начале 20 века гражданские суды работали слишком медленно и стоили дорого.

2. В настоящее время существуют суды мелких тяжб, специально предназначенные для разбира­тельства мелких дел.

3. Для подачи заявки в суд мелких тяжб необходимо позвонить в местный суд и обсудить проблему со служащим суда, затем заполнить анкеты и заплатить взнос.

4. Необходимо подготовиться к слушанию Вашего дела заранее: подготовить необходимую инфор­мацию (квитанции, письма, расчеты за ремонт и т.д.).
5. Если это возможно, надо принести бракованный то­вар.

6. Свяжитесь со всеми свидетелями и убедитесь, что они придут на суд. Свидетели, не желающие сотрудничать, могут быть доставлены.

7. Слушание дела было отложено на месяц.

8. После того, как обе стороны высказались, су­дья вынес свое решение.

 

UNIT 10

Read and translate the text.

DOOR-TO-DOOR AND TELEPHONE SALES

Most door-to-door salespeople are honest. They offer products and services consumers may need and want. Some, however, use high-pressure tactics and smooth talk to get you to buy things that you other­wise wouldn't buy. Once in the door, this type of sales­person won't take no for an answer and will do almost anything to make the sale.

Some state laws and a Federal Trade Commission rule give consumers a "cooling-off" period of three business days after they have signed a contract for over $25 with a door-to-door salesperson. During this period, consumers can notify door-to-door sellers in writing that they wish to cancel the contract. The FTC rule also requires door-to-door salespeople to tell their customers about the right to cancel and to put this notice in writing. If the seller does not do this, the con­sumer may be able to cancel the contract by sending a letter or telegram to the seller.

Consumers should be cautious regarding sales of­fers made by telephone. Many fraudulent schemes are conducted this way. The cooling-off period of three days does not yet apply to telephone sales. Be partic­ularly careful if a telephone salesperson asks for your credit card number. This person may not only fail to send what you order but may also make additional purchases using your credit card number!

Telemarketing Scams

According to the United States House Committee on Government Operations, consumers lose between $3 billion and $15 billion annually due to telemarket­ing fraud. The National Consumers League identifies the following top ten telemarketing scams:

1. Postcard guaranteed prize offers.

2. Advance fee loan scams.

3. Fraudulent 900 number promotions.

4. Precious metal investment schemes.

5. Toll call fraud.

6. "Free" airfare vacation offers.

7. Direct debit from checking accounts.

8. Phony Yellow Pages invoices.

9. Phone credit card promotions.

10. Collector's items.

 

Phony Contests and Referral Sales

A seller may convince consumers that they can save money by referring the seller to other customers. The consumer then enters into a sales contract assuming that the price will be reduced if he or she gives a list of other potential purchasers of the product to the sell­er. However, the agreement usually provides savings to the consumer only if the potential customers actu­ally buy the product. This selling technique is called a referral sale. Unless deceptive, referral sales are gen­erally legal.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

агенты по продаже на дому, тактика давления и уговоров, период обдумывания, право на растор­жение контракта, мошенническая схема, продажа товара по телефону, междугородный телефонный разговор, убедить покупателя, жульническое со­ревнование

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What are high-pressure tactics and smooth talk? Give your examples.

2. What is a "cooling-off" period? How long is it? Do we have it in this country?

3. Why should consumers be cautious regarding sales offers made by telephone?

4. How much do consumers lose annually due to telemarketing fraud according to the United States House Committee on Government Operations?

5. Comment on the top ten telemarketing scams. Have you heard of any of them?

6. What are referral sales? Are they legal?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Read the story, finish it and retell.

Two months ago Mr. Lock received a visit from a salesman representing Bargain Electrics Ltd, who persuaded him to buy an electric drill for $60. He told Mr. Lock that if he sent a $15 deposit, they would send him the drill on a two-week home trial. If, after that time, he didn't want to keep the drill, he should send it back and his deposit would be refunded. The sales­man assured Mr. Lock that he was under no obligation to buy the drill if he didn't like it.

Mr. Lock sent his deposit and received the drill a few days later. But when he tried it out he found it didn't work, and the same afternoon his wife saw ex­actly the same drill in a local shop for only $50.

So he sent the drill back to Bargain Electrics with a letter. In the letter he explained that he didn't want the drill because it didn't work and pointed out that the same drill could be bought locally for $10 less.

Instead of getting his deposit back, as he expected, Mr. Lock got a letter from Bargain Electrics in which they claimed that he had broken the drill by using it wrongly, and that he still owed them $45.

So Mr. Lock wrote back to them. He strongly de­nied that he had broken the drill, and asked them again to return his $15.

A few days later he got a letter from the Managing Director, who insisted that the drill had reached Mr. Lock in perfect condition, and warned him that if he did not pay the balance within seven days, the com­pany would have to take legal action.

 

5. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

consumer	phony
cautious	binding agreement
fraudulent	obliterate
scam	make less
debit	careful
referral sale	entry (in an account) of a sum owing
honest	fraud
cancel	deceptive selling technique
contract	not cheating
reduce	person who uses goods

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Некоторые агенты по продаже товаров на дому используют тактику давления и уговоров, чтобы заставить купить их товары.

2. Закон определяет период на обдумывание (3 рабочих дня), в течение которого можно отказать­ся от покупки.

3. Надо быть осторожным при оформлении покупки по телефону, так как при таких сделках возможно применение мошеннических схем. На покупки, совершенные по телефону, не распространяет­ся действие закона о периоде обдумывания.

4. Ежегодно покупатели теряют много денег из-за мошенничества при продаже товаров через те­левидение.

5. По одной из жульнических схем покупателю предлагают дать большую скидку, если он/она сообщит о других потенциальных покупателях данного товара. Но покупатель получает скидку, только если потенциальные покупатели покупают товар. Хотя подобная практика является обманной, она не запрещена по закону.

 

UNIT 11

Read and translate the text.

ADVERTISING AND THE CONSUMER

Advertising is everywhere. Each day, American consumers are bombarded by ads on radio and televi­sion, in newspapers and magazines, on billboards and bus shelters, even on blimps in the air and benches in the park.

The United States has always been a commercial society; but in recent years, advertising has become more widespread. In 1992, over $130 billion was spent on advertising in the mass media, and this doesn't in­clude non-mass-media advertising like direct mail ads. Advertising has also become more persistent and in­trusive. As a result, people sometimes try to avoid ad­vertising by flipping the channel during TV commer­cials or tossing unopened junk mail into the trash can.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution pro­tects advertising as an expression of free speech. How­ever, courts have ruled that government may regu­late and even prohibit certain types of advertising. One of the most controversial types of advertising in­volves tobacco. Tobacco advertising is controversial because smoking is the nation's leading preventable cause of death. More people die from smoking each year than from AIDS, accidents, fires, homicides, sui­cides, and drunk driving combined. As a result, there have been efforts to eliminate or restrict tobacco ad­vertising. In 1972, tobacco advertising was prohibited on radio and television, but it is still allowed in maga­zines, in newspapers, and on billboards and other forms of outdoor advertising. Tobacco ads on bill­boards are particularly controversial. Unlike news­papers and magazines, which can be ignored or thrown away, billboards make the American public a "cap­tive audience" to huge, intrusive ads that can't be avoided. What's more, numerous studies have shown that more billboards are located in neighborhoods where poor people live than elsewhere.

Advertising can, of course, be beneficial. For ex­ample, merchants use advertising to tell potential cus­tomers about their products. Ads can also help con­sumers by telling them about new goods and services and by providing other useful information. Although ads can be helpful, they can also mislead, deceive, and confuse.

Ads sometimes mislead consumers through vague claims or, in a few cases, outright lies. Other times, ads try to create a desire for products that consumers don't really need or want. Many ads appeal to emo­tion rather than provide the kind of factual informa­tion needed to make a wise buying decision.

The federal and state governments have laws that prohibit false or deceptive advertising. However, these laws are difficult to enforce, and deception can take many forms.

When the public is widely exposed to a misleading ad, the FTC can order the seller to stop the false ad­vertising. It can also order corrective advertising. This means that the advertiser must admit the deception in all future ads for a specified period of time. For example, a well-known mouth wash company advertised that its product cured sore throats and colds. When an investigation proved this claim false, the FTC ordered that all new ads state that the previous claims were untrue.

Although, as a general rule, false or misleading ads are illegal, one type of ad is an exception to this rule. Ads based on the seller's opinion, personal taste, or obvious exaggeration are called puffing. While per­haps not literally true, ads that puff are not illegal. For example, a used car dealer that advertises the "World's Best Used Cars" is engaged in puffing. A rea­sonable person should know better than to rely on the truthfulness of such a statement. Similarly, an­nouncing a sale at a furniture store, an ad reads: "2,750 items of furniture have to disappear tonight." This ad is not literally true; but again, a reasonable consumer should understand that it is just "seller's talk."

In contrast, consider an ad that reads: "Giant Sale— Top-Quality CD Players, formerly $300, now just $225." If the compact disc players were never sold at $300 and could have been purchased anytime for $225, this ad is illegal. It misleads consumers about an im­portant fact concerning the product. The ad is not puffing, because it is not based on the seller's opinion, personal taste, or obvious exaggeration.

The difference between illegal advertising and puffing may be small, so consumers should be on guard. If an ad tends to mislead about an important fact con­cerning the product, it is illegal; but if the ad is merely an exaggeration or a nonspecific opinion, it is proba­bly puffing and legal.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

широко распространенный, средства массовой информации, настойчивая и навязчивая реклама, телевизионные рекламные ролики, свобода слова, сомнительная реклама, причина смерти, реклам­ный щит, сбивать с толку, откровенная ложь, взы­вать к чувствам, корректирующая реклама, при­знать обман, очевидное преувеличение, торговец подержанными автомобилями, быть начеку

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. Why has advertising become more widespread in recent years?

2. What is non-mass-media advertising?

3. Do you sometimes try to avoid advertising? How?

4. Do you agree that "advertising is an expres­sion of free speech"? Why? Why not?

5. How is tobacco advertising controversial? Is it legal in Russia? Are there any restrictions?

6. Give examples of beneficial advertising.

7. How can ads mislead consumers?

8. Do we have any laws that prohibit false or de­ceptive advertising in Russia?

9. What is the difference between illegal adver­tising and puffing? Give your examples.

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Read the text and answer the questions.

THE GUARANTEED JEEP

Janine Gomez received a mailgram addressed to her with the word URGENT in bold letters across the front. She opened the envelope and read the letter. It told her she was a guaranteed prizewinner. The two prizes listed in large, bold letters were a brand new jeep and a big-screen color television. In much small­er print, the letter said that there were other valu­able prizes that she could win instead. No matter what, she was preselected as a certain winner.

All she had to do to claim her prize was call a direct number: 1-900-NEW- JEEP. In even smaller print, the letter informed her that the call would cost $5 for the first minute and $3 for each additional minute and that it would take from three to five minutes to adequately discuss her prize. Although this was an expensive call, Janine decided that the prize she would get would be worth the cost of the call.

1. Assume that the prize Janine is offered is a kitchen appliance available in grocery stores for less than $2. What should she do?

2. What mistake, if any, did she make in deciding to respond to the mailgram?

3. Have you or has anyone in your family ever received notice of a guaranteed prize in the mail? How did you respond?

4. What, if anything, was deceptive about the mailgram?

5. In what way, if any, should the law regulate situations such as the one encountered by Janine?

 

5. Problem-solving.

To determine the impact of one form of advertis­ing on you and your community, conduct a survey of outdoor advertising in your neighborhood and around your school. Next time you travel from home to school, note the following:

1. How many billboards do you see? If you don't see any, do you see any other forms of outdoor advertis­ing? Explain.

2. How many advertisements do you see for alcoholic beverages and cigarettes? How many for other products? What percentage of the outdoor ads you see are for alcohol and tobacco?

3. How many billboards are located in inappropriate locations, such as near schools, churches, homes, or parks?

4. What is the character of the neighborhood around your school and home? Compare your answers with those of other students. Are there any differences in the number of outdoor ads among different types of neighborhoods? (Note: If you don't see any outdoor advertising at all, it is probably because your city or town has an ordinance prohibiting this form of adver­tising.)

 

6. Problem-solving.

Study ads that appear in your local newspaper. Bring in three examples of puffing. For each, explain why the ad is not illegal, even though it may not be literally true.

 

7. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

ad	influence
amendment	get rid of
prohibit	make effective
eliminate	advertisement
restrict	an investigation or analysis of a market
beneficial	change proposed or made to a rule, regulation, etc.
enforce	a telegram delivered by the postal service with the regular mail
survey	helpful
mailgram	limit
impact	forbid

 

8. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Ежедневно на потребителей обрушивается реклама на радио, телевидении, в газетах, журналах, на досках объявлений, в автобусах, на скамей­ках в парках и так далее.

2. За последнее время реклама стала более широко распространенной, более настойчивой и навяз­чивой.

3. Люди пытаются избавиться от рекламы, переключая телевизор, выбрасывая нераспечатанные конверты с рекламой.

4. Реклама является выражением свободы слова, однако, правительство может запрещать опре­деленные виды рекламы.

5. Самым противоречивым видом рекламы является реклама табачных изделий, так как их упот­ребление может явиться причиной смерти.

6. Ежегодно в США от курения умирает больше людей, чем от спида, аварий, пожаров, убийств, са­моубийств и вождения в нетрезвом состоянии, вме­сте взятых.

7. Реклама табачных изделий запрещена на радио и телевидении, но разрешена в других средст­вах массовой информации.

8. Исследования показали, что большинство рекламных щитов с рекламой табака находятся в тех местах, где живут бедные люди.

9. Реклама может приносить пользу: информировать потенциальных покупателей о новых товарах и услугах, предоставлять другую необходимую информацию.

10. Реклама может также вводить в заблуждение и сбивать с толку, взывая к эмоциям, а не пре­доставлять достоверную информацию о товаре.

11. Существуют законы, запрещающие неправ­дивую рекламу.

12. Если в рекламе содержался обман, рекламодателя могут заставить признать это в последующей рекламе в течение определенного периода вре­мени.

13. Часто в рекламе используется очевидное преувеличение, что не является незаконным. Разумные покупатели должны понимать, что это про­сто рекламный трюк.

14. Разница между преувеличением и незаконной рекламой может быть незначительной, поэто­му покупателям надо быть начеку.

 

UNIT 12

Read and translate the text.

ADS THAT APPEAL TO OUR EMOTIONS

For many consumers, the biggest problem is not false advertising. Rather, it is legal advertising that influences them to buy things they really don't want, need, or know much about. Many ads try to sell prod­ucts by appealing to the emotions.

Some ads associate products with popular ideas or symbols, such as family, motherhood, wealth, or sex appeal. These ads try to convince you that purchasing the advertised products will associate you with the same ideas or symbols. Nearly all perfume ads in mag­azines, for example, include photos of beautiful wom­en. The message to consumers: Use this perfume and you will appear to be as beautiful as the woman in our ad

The bandwagon approach is a technique that pro­motes the idea that everybody's using the product. Automotive manufacturers sometimes claim, for ex­ample, that their car, truck, or minivan is "best selling in its class in America ... three years running." The message: Because others have bought our product, you should, too.

Related to this is celebrity appeal. This technique involves having famous athletes or movie stars adver­tise the product. The best-known celebrity ads show professionals athletes promoting sports equipment. These people bring glamour and style to ads, but this does not necessarily mean the products are of high quality.

Still other ads try to convince consumers by resort­ing to the claims of authorities, such as doctors, or by citing test results or studies that appear scientific. Ads for certain medicines include the phrase, "recom­mended by doctors." Of course, smart consumers would want to know which doctors recommended it, and for what symptoms.

A common television technique is based on the no­tion that seeing is believing. A popular television ad shows a housekeeper cleaning two areas of bathroom tile, one with the recommended product and the oth­er with the product of a leading competitor. After one quick stroke, one area of tile sparkles, and the other is still dirty. Consumers tend to remember this picture when thinking about cleaning products.

Some ads appeal to emotion simply by trying to make us laugh or feel good. One airline ran an ad fre­quently in winter months showing a tanned, rested couple lounging on a warm, sunny beach. The idea was to make customers feel good and think of that airline first for travel to warm vacation spots in the winter.

Other ads include catchy musical jingles. One cola company contracted with a famous rhythm-and-blues performer to play the piano and sing in its ads. Con­sumers remembered both the jingle and the product.

Some advertisers have been successful in getting consumers to connect one brand name with a certain product. For example, consumers often say jello when they may mean gelatin and kleenex when they may mean tissue. The people who make the ads for these products know that many shoppers select nationally advertised brands even though local or store brands may cost less and be of equal quality.

Whatever technique advertisers use, you should learn to separate the product from the characters and images in its ads.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

обращение к чувствам; лидер продаж; увидеть— значит поверить; легко запоминающиеся мелодии; торговая марка; спортивное оборудование; ссы­латься на результаты тестов; загорелая, отдохнув­шая пара; рекламный прием

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is the biggest problem for many consum­ers with advertising? Is it the same with you?

2. What advertising techniques are mentioned in the text? Explain the meaning of each of them. Give your own examples.

3. Which technique influences you most? Why?

4. Can you separate the product from the char­acters and images in its ads?

5. Which ad do you find the best? The worst? Why?

6. How would you advertise your product?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Read and analyze the following ads. For each, an­swer the following questions: What technique or appeal is used? Is any important information missing? To whom is the ad trying to appeal — children, adults, women, men, or some other group?

a. "Show your love to a friend and to Mother Earth. Use the greeting card made from recycled products."

b. "Nine out of 10 doctors recommend 'Super Strength' Pain Reliever."

c. A famous actress says: "If you want to get that special man in your life, use Avec Moi Perfume."

d. "Going out of business! Bargains galore! Every­thing at the Pants Palace is priced to sell, sell, sell."

e. "Your mother used Stuart's Baby Powder; shouldn't you?"

f. "For the time of your life, drink Brewmeister Beer."

g. "You've come a long way, baby. Why not smoke a woman's cigarette?"

Select three effective ads from a newspaper or magazine. Why is each ad effective? What technique or appeal is being used in each ad? (Instead of using print ads, you could tape ads from radio or videotape ads from television.)

 

5. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

bandwagon approach	technique involves having famous athletes or movie stars advertise the product
celebrity appeal	a common television technique
claims of authorities	technique that promotes the idea that everybody's using the product
seeing is believing	convince consumers by citing test results or studies that appear scientific

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Реклама часто взывает к эмоциям покупате­лей, призывая людей покупать те товары, которые им не нужны, о которых они мало что знают.

2. Некоторые рекламы связывают товар с популярными идеями или символами, например, с семь ей, материнством, благосостоянием, привлекатель­ностью.

3. Существует такая рекламная техника, когда покупателям навязывается идея, что все исполь­зуют данный товар. "Все уже купили наш товар, Вам тоже пора."

4. Часто знаменитые спортсмены или кинозвез­ды рекламируют товары.

5. Некоторые рекламные объявления пытаются убедить покупателей в качестве товара, приводя высказывания специалистов и ссылаясь на результаты тестов, приводя фразу "рекомендовано вра­чами".

6. Телевизионная реклама обычно основывается на принципе "лучше один раз увидеть, чем сто раз услышать".

7. Часто реклама заставляет нас смеяться. Другие рекламодатели используют привлекательные мелодии или пытаются связать название торговой марки с самим продуктом.

8. Какими бы рекламными приемами ни пользовались рекламодатели, покупатель должен нау­читься отличать товар от его рекламного образа.

 

UNIT 13

Read and translate the text.

BAIT AND SWITCH SALES TECHNIQUE

The bait-and-switch sales technique involves an insincere offer to sell a product on terms that sound almost too good to be true. The seller does not really want to sell the product, or "bait," being offered. The bait is simply used to get the buyer into the store. Once the consumer is in the store, he or she finds that the product is much less appealing than expected. Fur­thermore, on some occasions, the store may have only a very limited quantity of the "bait," or the product may not be available at all. The seller then tries to "switch" the consumer to a more expensive item. Salespersons who use the bait-and-switch technique are told to "talk down," or disparage, the advertised product and then refer the consumer to a higher-priced item. As encouragement, they may be given a higher commission if they sell the higher-priced item.

The Federal Trade Commission has rules against use of the bait-and-switch selling technique and will take appropriate action when it receives complaints from consumers. Many state and local agencies also handle such complaints. If state law prohibits bait and switch, a consumer may be able to cancel a contract with a seller when the seller has used this technique.

Sellers can legally advertise specials at very low prices to get customers into their stores without vio­lating the bait-and-switch law. The items offered in these specials are sometimes referred to as loss leaders, because the seller may lose money or make very little-money on them. It is not illegal to advertise a loss leader, so long as the seller has an adequate supply of the item in stock and does not disparage the item in order to switch the buyer to a more expensive product.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

приманка; ограниченное количество; поощрение; более высокие комиссионные; принять соответст­вующие меры; адекватное количество товара; дис­кредитировать; товар, продающийся по низким це­нам с целью привлечь покупателей

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is the bait-and-switch sales technique?

2. How does it work? Have you ever come across it?

3. Are there special rules against use of the bait-and-switch selling technique?

4. Can a consumer cancel a contract with a seller when the seller has used this technique?

5. What are loss leaders? Why are they used?

6. What other sales techniques do you know?

7. Which of them do you find effective?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Judy and her brother Ralph are shopping for a new motorcycle. They see an ad in the Friday newspaper that says, "Come to Big Wheel for the best deals on the slickest wheels in town! This weekend only, a 250 cc street bike, only $1,395!"

When they arrive at Big Wheel, the salesperson tells them that the street bike is not very powerful, tends to vibrate above 40 miles per hour, and is uncomfortable for long trips. He suggests that they test ride a 500 cc, four-cylinder motorcycle on sale this weekend for $2,795.

 

5. Role-play this encounter.

a. What is the best way for a customer to handle an aggressive seller?

b. Has the salesperson used the bait-and-switch technique, or was the advertised product a loss leader for Big Wheel? Give reasons for your answer.

c.  Assume that Judy and Ralph arrive at the store on Saturday at noon and are told that all the 250 cc cycles have already been sold. Do they have a right to buy one at the advertised price?

 

6. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

talk down	an insincere offer to sell a product on terms that sound almost too good to be true
loss leader	kept or stored ready for use or sale
bait-and-switch sales technique	the seller may lose money or make very little money on it
in stock	break
violate	disparage

 

 

7. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. При технике продажи, известной под названи­ем "приманка", покупателю предлагают  купить то­вар на нереально выгодных условиях. Но это дела­ется только с целью завлечь покупателя в магазин.

2. В некоторых случаях тот товар, который обе­щали выгодно продать, вообще отсутствует в мага­зине.

3. Продавцы пытаются уговорить покупателя купить более дорогой товар. За продажу более дорогого товара они получают и более высокие комис­сионные.

4. Существуют законы, запрещающие использование подобной техники продаж.

5. Покупатель име­ет право расторгнуть такую сделку.

6. Если магазин предлагает товар по намеренно заниженной цене и товар этот имеется в наличии, такой способ продаж является законным.

 

UNIT 14

Read and translate the text.

SHOPPING BY MAIL

Millions of consumers shop by mail. Mail-order shopping is convenient. Items may cost less, and some items may be available that are not available in local stores. However, mail-order shopping can also cause problems. Mail-order packages can arrive late, bro­ken, or not at all.

According to federal law, you have a right to know when you can expect merchandise to be shipped. Sell­ers must comply with the promises in their ads (such as "will be rushed to you within a week"). If no ship- ping date is stated, the merchandise must be shipped within 30 days of the seller's receipt of your order. If the seller does not ship within 30 days, you have the right to cancel the order.

The Federal Trade Commission monitors compliance with the mail-order rule. This rule does not ap ply, however, to purchases made by telephone. With several cable television channels offering extensive opportunities for telephone shopping, some state legislatures are considering whether additional consumer protection laws are needed regarding home shop ping.

Consumers should watch out for ads sent through the mail offering "free" items in exchange for subscriptions or memberships. Offers of free items almost always require a commitment to purchase other items in the future (for example, "four free books now if you purchase four more during the next year at the members' price"). Book and recording clubs often mail catalogs to members on a monthly basis.

 

ADVICE

• Carefully read the product description.
• Be certain that the order form is filled out cor­rectly and that all required information is provided.
• Pay by check or money order. Never send cash.
• Keep a copy of the order blank, the seller's name and address, and the date you sent in the order.
• Note the promised delivery time.
• Carefully inspect all mail-order packages upon receipt to be sure that nothing is missing.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

покупка товаров по почте; вызвать проблемы; доставить покупку; выполнить обещания; расторг­нуть заказ; следить за выполнением правил тор­говли по почте; широкие возможности; быть осто­рожным; предлагать "бесплатные" товары; обяза­тельство купить другие товары в будущем; бланк заказа; по получении

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. Why is mail-order shopping convenient?

2. What problems can mail-order shopping cause?

3. What right do you have according to federal law?

4. How quickly must the merchandise be shipped if no shipping date is stated?

5. Who monitors compliance with the mail-or­der rule?

6. Does this rule apply to purchases made by tele­phone?

7. Why should consumers watch out for ads sent through the mail offering "free" items in exchange for subscriptions or memberships? Have you ever received such ads?

8. Why is it not a good idea to send cash?

9. Why is it recommended to inspect carefully all mail-order packages upon receipt?

10. Have you ever bought anything by mail?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about. Read and discuss the following text:

THE ELECTRIC KNIFE

One day, Barry received a package in the mail containing an electric knife from the Super-Knife Corporation. A letter was enclosed that said he was getting the knife for a free 10-day trial. Barry used it once and then forgot about it. Three weeks later, a bill came for $39.95. Must Barry pay?

Barry does not have to pay for the knife, nor does he have to return it. Under federal law, all unordered merchandise received by mail may be kept as a gift. Sending unordered merchandise is unlawful, and such activity should be reported to the U.S. Postal Service or the Federal Trade Commission. It is lawful to send free samples and to ask for charitable contributions, but the receiver of the goods cannot be forced to pay.

 

1. Problem-solving.

Shannon receives a mailing announcing a special introductory offer for persons who join a popular music club. As part of the promotion she can get six cassettes for only $1, plus shipping. In smaller print the offer says that she will also be required to pur­chase at least three cassettes per year for two years. The additional cassettes are sold at the club's regular members' price, plus shipping.

The club publishes a catalogue of new releases ev­ery other month. The catalogue is mailed to each member with one cassette preselected. A member who does not want that cassette must return a card to the company within two weeks of receiving the catalogue. Otherwise the cassette will automatically be sent.

 

a. Is this mailing legal?

b. If Shannon takes advantage of this introductory offer, how many cassettes will she have to purchase?

c. What are the advantages and disadvantages of membership in this club?

 

2. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

convenient	meet
ship	an agreement to pay a sum of money
comply	examine
monitor	transport
subscription	the state of belonging to a group
membership	suitable
inspect	observe

 

3. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Приобретение покупок по почте удобно, поэтому миллионы покупателей пользуются услугами фирм, торгующих по почте.

2. Но при приобретении покупок по почте могут возникнуть определенные проблемы.

3. Если покупка не доставлена в срок, покупатель имеет право расторгнуть сделку.

4. Есть законы, регулирующие совершение покупок по почте, однако это законодательство не относится к покупкам, совершенным по телефону.

5. Надо быть осторожным, если Вам предлагают какие-то "бесплатные" товары или услуги в обмен на обязательство купить другие товары в будущем.

6. При совершении покупки по почте необходимо внимательно прочитать описание товара, правильно заполнить бланк заказа и сохранить его, никогда не платить наличными, сразу же по получении товара тщательно проверить его.

 

UNIT 15

Read and translate the text.

CONTRACTS

A contract is an agreement between two or more persons to exchange something of value. In a contract, each person is legally bound to do what is promised. If one party to a contract does not carry out the prom­ise, the other party is entitled to a remedy.

The law of contracts reaches into many aspects of our daily lives. To protect yourself as a consumer, it is important to understand how contracts are formed and how they affect your rights.

Elements of a Contract

A legally binding contract must have certain ele­ments. There must be an offer by one party and an acceptance by the other. In addition, the two parties must agree exactly to the terms of the contract. This is called mutual agreement To have mutual agreement, the parties do not always have to say "we agree." The law infers agreement from certain actions, such as sign­ing a contract or beginning to carry out the terms of the bargain.

In every valid contract, there must also be an ex­change of consideration. This means something of val­ue is given for something else of value. For example, when you buy an item at a store, your consideration is the money you pay, and the merchant's consideration is the item you are buying. The values of the items being exchanged do not have to be the same. The law allows consumers to make both good deals and bad deals.

People entering into a contract must be legally competent to make contracts. This means they can­not be mentally ill or intoxicated. Also, agreements to do something illegal or against public policy are not enforceable in court.

If Lorenzo says to Sally, "I will sell you my motor­cycle for $150," this is an offer. If Sally says, "OK," if she pays the $150 to Lorenzo, or if she signs an agree­ment to pay $150, there is an acceptance. They have agreed to the exact terms. The motorcycle being ex­changed for the money is the exchange of consider­ation. Both parties are competent, and the agreement is not illegal or against public policy. Therefore, a con­tract has been made.

You should not be too quick to enter into a con­tract. Be sure you understand and agree with all the terms before you accept; otherwise, it may be too late to back out of the deal.

 

Minors and Contracts

A minor is a person under the age of legal majority (18 in most states). Minors may make contracts. However, as a general rule, they cannot be forced to саrry out their promises and may cancel or refuse to honor their contracts. Minors who cancel contracts usually must return any goods or consideration still in their possession. This rule is designed to protect minors from being taken advantage of because of their age and lack of experience. However, minors may have a tough time getting credit because of this rule. Many stores require minors to have a parent or other adult cosign any major contract. The adult cosigner is responsible for making payments if the minor backs out of the deal.

Minors may, however, be held to contracts that in­volve necessities, such as food, clothing, shelter, or medical aid. Minors can be required to pay for the rea­sonable value of such goods and services.

In most states, a minor who continues making pay­ments on a contract after reaching the age of majori­ty is considered to have ratified the contract. Once the contract has been ratified, it can no longer be can­celed.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

выполнять обещание; затрагивать чьи-то пра­ва; условия контракта; взаимное соглашение; под­разумевать; компенсация; дееспособный; заклю­чать договор; уклониться от сделки; совершенно­летие; выполнять условия контракта; защитить несовершеннолетних; лицо, подписывающее кон­тракт вместе с другим лицом; медицинская помощь; ратифицировать контракт

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is a contract?

2. What happens if one party to a contract does not carry out the promise?

3. Why is it important to understand how con­tracts are formed and how they affect your rights?

4. What are the elements of a contract?

5. What is mutual agreement?

6. What is an exchange of consideration? How does it work? Give your own example.

7. Why must people entering into a contract be legally competent?

8. What kinds of agreements are not enforce­able in court?

9. Why shouldn't you be too quick to enter into a contract? Why is it important to read a contract before signing it?

10. Can minors make contracts? What is special about such contracts?

11. What is an adult cosigner responsible for?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

 

1. Keith, 16, a drummer in a popular band, goes, to a local music store to purchase a new set of drums. The drums cost $750. He offers to put down $150 and make monthly payments on the remaining amount. Because Keith is only 16, the manager of the store refuses to sell him the drums. Is this fair? Is this legal?

2. For each of the following situations, decide wheth­er a contract has been made. Give your reasons.

a. An auctioneer says, "What am I bid for this an­tique sofa?" Someone in the crowd says, "$300."

b. Adam says to Basil, "I'm going to sell my car for $500." Basil replies, "All right, here is the money. I'll take it."

c. The citizens of a small town collect $1,000 and of­fer it as a reward for the capture of a suspected criminal. The sheriff captures the suspect and seeks the reward.

d. Sara's father promises to pay her $1,000 when she turns 18. On her 18 birthday, she seeks the money.

e. Standing at one end of a long bridge, Shelly says to Lynn, "I'll give you $5 if you walk across the bridge." Lynn says nothing but starts walking across the bridge.

f. Liz offers Sharon $100 to steal four hubcaps for her sports car. Sharon steals the hubcaps, brings them to Liz, and asks for the money.

5. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

contract	approval
carry out	deal
acceptance	something of value is given for something else of value
offer	fulfill
bargain	full age
exchange of consideration	an agreement between two or more persons to exchange something of value
legal majority	a person who signs the contract together with another person
tough	withdraw from an agreement
back out of the deal	give formal consent
ratify	difficult
cosigner	proposal

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. По условиям контракта обе стороны обязаны сделать то, что они обещали.

2. Важно понимать, как заключаются контракты и как они отражают наши права.

3. Каждый контракт имеет определенные эле­менты. Во-первых, это предложение с одной сто­роны и соглашение с другой. Во-вторых, обе сторо­ны должны согласиться с условиями контракта.

4. Каждый законный контракт подразумевает взаимную компенсацию.

5. Люди, заключающие контракт, должны быть дееспособны, то есть находиться в здравом уме и трезвой памяти.

6. Не следует заключать контракт слишком по­спешно. Убедитесь, что Вы понимаете все его пункты, иначе будет слишком поздно уклониться от его выполнения.

7. Лица, не достигшие совершеннолетия, могут заключать контракты. Однако они могут отказаться выполнять обязательства и расторгнуть контракт.

8. Многие магазины требуют, чтобы вместе с несовершеннолетним контракт подписал один из родителей или другой взрослый. В таком случае взрослый берет на себя ответственность за соблюдение условий контракта.

 

UNIT 16

Read and translate the texts.

WRITTEN AND ORAL CONTRACTS

Most contracts may be either written or oral (spo­ken). However, certain kinds of contracts must be in writing to be enforceable. These include contracts for the sale of land or real estate, contracts for the sale of goods priced at $500 or more, agreements to pay an­other person's debt, and agreements that cannot be performed within a year from the date of the agree­ment.

The law favors written contracts. For your protec­tion, it is always better to have a written contract. Oth­erwise, it can be difficult to prove that a party prom­ised to do something. If there is a written contract, a court will not listen to evidence of promises made be­fore the signing of the contract except when the writ­ten contract is unclear or one party was tricked into entering the contract.

 

ILLEGAL CONTRACTS

Some contracts are unenforceable in court because they are illegal or against public policy. For example, an agreement between two persons to sell illegal drugs could never be enforced in court.

In addition, courts sometimes find that a contract is so unfair, harsh, and oppressive that it should not be enforced. Such a contract is considered to be uncon­scionable.

Courts will usually not refuse to enforce a contract simply because it requires someone to pay a very high price for something. As noted earlier, the law allows for freedom of contract, and consumers are allowed to make bad deals as well as good ones. On rare occa­sions, though, a court may not enforce an extremely unfair contract (or the unfair clause in a contract).

A court is more likely to find a contract unconscio­nable when (1) the consumer is presented with a con­tract on a take-it-or-leave-it basis and (2) there is very uneven bargaining power between the parties (as when an experienced seller is dealing with an unedu­cated consumer).

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

устный контракт; обеспеченный правовой санкцией; закон поддерживает; заставить заключить контракт обманным путем; контракт, претензии по которому не могут быть заявлены в суде; незаконный контракт; несправедливый контракт; пун контракта

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What are the main two types of contracts?

2. What kinds of contracts must be in writing to be enforceable?

3. Should courts enforce an oral agreement to buy a car? Give reasons.

4. Why does the law favors written contracts?

5. Why are some contracts are unenforceable in court? Give your examples.

6. What can the courts do if they find that a con­tract is unfair, harsh, and oppressive?

7. Will the courts refuse to enforce a contract because it requires someone to pay a very high price for something?

8. When is a court likely to find a contract unconscionable?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

 

The Broken Promise

Ruth orally agreed to sell her car to Mike for $2,000. A few days later, she got an offer of $2,300 from Paul. Thereafter, she refused to sell her car to Mike. Can Mike hold her to the agreement? Should he be able to?

 

The Unfair Contract

A furniture store made an unemployed woman on public assistance sign its standard form contract for credit every time she made a purchase at the store. The contract had a term that said the store would own every item the woman purchased until all the items were fully paid for. The woman made several purchas­es at the store, signing this contract each time.

After several years of making all her payments, she purchased a stereo and missed two payments. The store believed it had the right under the contract to take back all the items the woman had ever purchased there.

A court of appeals found a portion of the contract to be unconscionable and did not enforce this unfair term in the agreement. The woman had to return the stereo but was able to keep all the items she had al­ready paid for.

 

5. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

unconscionable	unfair
uneven	defend from trouble, harm
enforce	illegal;
protect	a section of a legal document
clause	ensure observance of or obedience to a law, decision

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Большинство контрактов, чтобы быть обеспеченными правовой санкцией, должны быть заключены в письменном виде.

2. Это относится к тем контрактам, действие которых длится более года.

3. Для Вашей безопасности всегда лучше иметь письменный контракт. В противном случае будет нелегко доказать, что стороны обещали что-то сде­лать.

4. Если существует письменный контракт, суд не будет рассматривать те обещания, которые были сделаны до подписания контракта. Исключение со­ставляют случаи, когда в контракте существуют неясности или одну из сторон заставили заключить контракт обманным путем.

5. Контракт на продажу незаконного товара не может быть приведен в исполнение по суду.

6. Условия некоторых контрактов суд находит настолько несправедливыми и нечестными, что они не могут приводиться в исполнение по суду. Подоб­ные контракты признаются несправедливыми. Час­то такие контракты заключаются между опытным продавцом и неосведомленным покупателем.

 

UNIT 17

Reed and translate the texts.

WARRANTIES

A warranty is a promise or guarantee made by a seller concerning the quality or performance of goods offered for sale. A warranty is also a statement of what the seller will do to remedy the problem if the product doesn't perform as promised. If the seller does not live up to the promises made in the warranty, the war­ranty is said to be breached.

Warranties give consumers very important rights. You should always be aware of the warranties that exist when you make a purchase.

Not all warranties are the same. It's worthwhile to compare warranties when shopping.

When you look at a warranty, consider the duration (how long does it last?), the scope (what parts or problems are covered or excluded?), and the remedy (what do you get under the warranty and what must you do to get the remedy?).

Check your own state's law. Sometimes it gives you rights that are not in the warranty.

There are two types of warranties: express and implied.

 

Express Warranties

An express warranty is a statement—written, oral, or by demonstration—concerning the quality or performance of goods offered for sale that becomes a part of the bargain between the parties. For example, if a salesperson tells you "This TV will not need any re­pairs for five years," this salesperson has created an express warranty. Similarly, an express warranty is created if you purchase a vacuum cleaner from an appliance store after seeing a demonstration of the vacuum picking up small particles from a deep shag rug. Since oral warranties and warranties by demon­stration are difficult to prove, it is always best to get a written warranty.

Express warranties are created by statements of fact. Not everything a seller says is a warranty. If the seller's statement is merely an opinion or an obvious exaggeration, it is considered puffing, or sales talk, and cannot be relied on. For example, a used car dealer advertising "Fantastic Used Cars" is engaged in puff­ing. No warranty is created, and no customer should rely on such a statement.

What happens if your TV blows a tube or your watch won't keep time? The first thing to do is check the warranty. One TV may be guaranteed for 90 days, while another may be covered for a full year. Your warranty may provide a remedy when things go wrong. You may be able to return the item for a re­fund, exchange it for another, or have it repaired.

Sellers do not have to give written warranties. However, if they do, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act requires that the written warranties (1) disclose all the essential terms and conditions in a single docu­ment, (2) be stated in simple and easy-to-read lan­guage, and (3) be made available to the consumer be­fore a sale. Written warranties must also tell you ex­actly what is included and what is not included. For example, the warranty must explain what repairs are covered and who will make them. The warranty act does not apply to products that cost $15 or less.

Under the act, warranties are labeled either full or limited. Under a full warranty:

A defective product will be fixed or replaced free, including removal and reinstallation, if necessary.

The consumer will not have to do anything un­reasonable (such as shipping a piano to a factory) to get the warranty service.

The product will be fixed within a reasonable time after the consumer complains.

If the product can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer can get a refund or a replacement.

The warranty applies to anyone who owns the product during the warranty period (not just the first purchaser).

Any protection less than this is called a limited war­ranty. Such a warranty could cover some defects or problems and not others. For example, the limited warranty on a video recorder might cover the cost of new parts but not labor. Or it might cover some parts but not others. To learn what is covered, read all of the warranty carefully.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

гарантия; действовать согласно обязательствам; невыполнение гарантийных обязательств; знать о существующих гарантийных обязательствах; про­должительность гарантийного периода; возмеще­ние; прямая гарантия; связанная гарантия; очевид­ное преувеличение; торговец подержанными авто­мобилями; отремонтировать бесплатно; переуста­новить; получить назад деньги; заменить товар; ог­раниченная гарантия

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is a warranty?

2. What happens if the seller does not live up to the promises made in the warranty? Have you ever come across such situations?

3. Why should you always be aware of the war­ranties that exist when you make a purchase?

4. What should you consider when you look at a warranty?

5. What two types of warranties are there?

6. What is an express warranty?

7. Why is it always best to get a written warranty?

8. Is everything a seller says a warranty?

9. What is the difference between a warranty and a sales talk?

10. What is the first thing to do when something goes wrong with an item you purchased?

11. What does the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act require? Do we have any acts like this in Russia?

12. What is the difference between a full and lim­ited warranty?

14.     Give your own examples of different war­ranties you have read.

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Read and evaluate the one-year limited warranty and answer the following questions:

a. Who is making the warranty? Who will make any repairs—dealer, service center, manufacturer, or in­dependent repairer?

b. How long is the warranty in effect? Does the buy­er have to do anything to make the warranty effec­tive?

c. What is covered — the entire product or only certain parts? What is promised — repair, replace­ment, labor, postage? Are there any limitations or ex­clusions? Is this a full or a limited warranty? Why?

 

One-Year Limited Warranty

Electro Toasters fully guarantees this entire prod­uct to owner against defects in material or workman­ship for one year from purchase date.

Defective product may be brought or mailed to purchase place, authorized service center, or Service Department, Electro Toasters, Inc., 3^rd & Maple Streets, Arlington, PA 15616, freight prepaid, for free repair or replacement at our option.

Warranty does not include cost of inconvenience, damage due to product failure, transportation damages, misuse, abuse, accident, or commercial use.

For information, write Consumer Claims Manager at above Arlington address. Send owner's name, address, name of store or service center involved, model, serial number, purchase date, and description of problem.       

This warranty gives specific legal rights. You may have other rights that vary from state to state.

This warranty becomes effective upon purchase: Mailing the enclosed registration card is one way of proving purchase date but is not required for war­ranty coverage.

 

5. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

warranty	be informed
breach	how long it lasts
be aware	break
duration	promise or guarantee made by a seller concer­ning the quality or performance of goods offered for sale
scope	what you get under the warranty and what you must do to get it
remedy	a statement-written, oral, or by demonstration — concerning the quality or performance of goods offered for sale that becomes a part of the bargain between the parties
express warranty	a warranty that covers some defects or problems and not others
limited warranty	what parts or problems are covered or excluded

 

 

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Гарантия — это обещание продавца, касаю­щееся качества и технических характеристик то­вара, а также обязательства продавца по исправ­лению неполадок в случае их возникновения.

2. Перед совершением покупки необходимо уз­нать о предоставляемых гарантиях (длительности гарантийного периода, исправление каких непола­док включает в себя гарантия и что потребуется от покупателя в случае возникновения неполадок).

3. Существуют два типа гарантийных обяза­тельств — прямая и связанная гарантия.

4. Прямая гарантия является частью сделки при покупке товара.

5. Поскольку устные гарантийные обязательст­ва всегда очень трудно доказать, и не все, что говорит продавец, является гарантией, лучше иметь письменную гарантию.

6. Гарантия должна содержать все необходимые условия, быть написана понятным языком и предоставляться покупателю до совершения покупки.

7. По условиям полной гарантии неисправный товар должен быть в краткие сроки починен или заменен бесплатно (включая доставку и установку), если починить товар невозможно, покупателю возвращают деньги.

 

UNIT 18

Read and translate the text.

IMPLIED WARRANTIES

Many consumers believe they have no protection if a new product without express warranties does not work. In many cases, however, consumers are pro­tected — even though they may not realize it — by an implied warranty. An implied warranty is an unwrit­ten promise, created by law, that a product will do what it is supposed to do. In other words, the law re­quires products to meet certain minimum standards of quality and performance, even if no express prom­ise is made. Implied warranties apply only to products sold by dealers; they do not apply to goods sold by ca­sual sellers. For example, if a friend sells you her bike, no implied warranties are involved. The three types of implied warranties are (1) warranty of merchant­ability, (2) warranty of fitness for a particular pur­pose, and (3) warranty of title.

A warranty of merchantability is an unwritten promise that the item sold is of at least average quali­ty for that type of item. For example, a radio must play, a saw must cut, and a freezer must keep food frozen. This warranty is always implied unless the seller expressly disclaims it. Be especially wary of goods marked with disclaimers such as "as is" or "final sale."

A warranty of fitness for a particular purpose ex­ists when a consumer tells a seller before buying an item that it is needed for a specific purpose or will be used in a certain way. A salesperson who sells an item with this knowledge makes an implied promise that the item will fulfill the stated purpose. For example, suppose you tell a salesperson you want a waterproof watch and the salesperson recommends a watch, which you then buy. An implied warranty of fitness has been created. If you go swimming and water leaks into the watch, the warranty has been breached.

A warranty of title is a seller's promise that he or she owns the item being offered for sale. Sellers must own the goods and be able to transfer title or owner­ship to the buyer. If a person sells stolen goods, the warranty of title has been broken.

Consumers who are harmed by products may be able to sue for damages because the manufacturer or seller has breached a warranty. Consumers may also be able to recover damages based either on the negli­gence of the manufacturer or seller or on a legal theo­ry called strict liability.

You should remember that if you fully examine goods (or have the opportunity to do so) before mak­ing a purchase, the implied warranty may not apply to those defects you should have discovered during the inspection. Therefore, carefully inspect for defects any goods you buy. Be especially careful with used cars. It is wise to have a mechanic you trust examine the car before you purchase it.

Be sure to carefully read all instructions that come with a product. If you fail to use the product properly, or if you use it for an improper purpose, you may can­cel the warranty.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

соответствовать определенным стандартам ка­чества; неофициальный продавец; гарантия товар­ного состояния; быть осторожным; гарантия соот­ветствия конкретной цели использования; гаран­тия правового титула; халатность производителя; обязанность граждан возмещать ущерб, причинен­ный в результате какого-либо недоразумения дру­гим лицам; использовать товар не по назначению

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. Is there any protection if a new product with­out express warranty does not work?

2. What is an implied warranty?

3. What deal do these implied warranties apply to?

4. What are the three types of implied warran­ties? Characterize these warranties.

5. What can consumers do if they are harmed by products?

6. Why should you carefully inspect for defects any goods you buy?

7. What happens if you fail to use the product properly or use it for an improper purpose?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Is a warranty created in any of the following situa­tions? If so, what type of warranty? Has the warranty been broken?

a. Juan sells Terri his used car. As Terri drives home, the car breaks down. The cost of fixing the car is great­er than the sale price.

b. Deitra buys a dress after telling the sales clerk that she plans to wash it in a washing machine. The clerk replies, "That's fine. This material is washable." Deitra washes the dress in her washing machine and the dress shrinks.

c. A salesperson tells Suzanne, "This is the finest camera on the market. It will last for years." Eight months later, the lens breaks.

d. Mike steals a diamond ring from a jewelry store and sells it to Maria after telling her his mother has given it to him.

e. Sandy orders a baseball bat from a catalog. The catalog reads, "31-inch baseball bat, $7.95," and in­cludes a picture of a wooden bat. Two weeks later, Sandy receives an aluminum bat in the mail.

f. Ned buys a new sofa from a furniture store. One of the legs falls off two weeks after delivery.

 

5. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

implied warranty	unwritten promise that the item sold is of at least average quality for that type of item
casual sellers	when a consumer tells a seller before buying an item that it is needed for a specific purpose or will be used in a certain way
warranty of merchantability	seller's promise that he or she owns the item being offered for sale
warranty of fitness for a particular purpose	unwritten promise, created by law, that a product will do what it is supposed to do
warranty of title	unofficial seller

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Во многих случаях права покупателей защи­щены связанной гарантией. Подобная гарантия рас­пространяется на товары, приобретенные у офи­циальных дилеров.

2. Существует три типа связанных гарантийных обязательств: гарантия товарного состояния, га­рантия соответствия конкретной цели использова­ния и гарантия правового титула.

3. Гарантия товарного состояния — это обеща­ние, что товар будет соответствовать по крайней мере средним показателям качества товаров дан­ного типа.

4. Гарантия соответствия конкретной цели ис­пользования существует, если до совершения по­купки покупатель сообщает продавцу, для какой конкретной цели он приобретает товар (например, водонепроницаемые часы).

5. Гарантия правового титула является обеща­нием продавца, что именно он является владельцем продаваемого товара. При продаже ворован­ного товара данная гарантия нарушается.

6. Если покупатель пострадал в результате ис­пользования товара, он может потребовать возме­щения убытков через суд.

7. Следует быть особенно осторожным при по­купке подержанных товаров, так как связанная га­рантия не распространяется на те дефекты, кото­рые Вы должны были увидеть при осмотре товара.

8. Гарантийные обязательства не распространя­ются на товар, который использовался неправиль­но или не по назначению.

 

UNIT 19

Read and translate the text.

DISCLAIMERS

Sherry buys a new guitar for $300. On the sales re­ceipt is a clause that reads, "This writing is the exclu­sive statement of the terms of agreement between the parties. Seller makes no warranties either express or implied with respect to this product." The third time Sherry plays the guitar, one of the strings snaps. Can she return the guitar?

A disclaimer is an attempt to limit the seller's re­sponsibilities should anything go wrong with a prod­uct. The clause quoted in the Case of the Guitar That Quit is a disclaimer. It is an attempt by the store to avoid responsibility for anything that goes wrong with the guitar. The quoted clause makes it clear that an express warranty is not being offered. But does the clause disclaim the implied warranty?

Sellers can usually disclaim the implied warranty of merchantability by using such expressions as "with all faults" or "as is." Unless these or other easily understood words are used, the seller must actually use the word merchantability in disclaiming the implied warranty of merchantability. In addition, to be effective, the disclaimer must be written so as to be easily seen by the consumer. Because the sales receipt for the guitar did not say "as is," "with all faults," or "merchantability," it is probably not effective as a disclaimer of the implied warranty of merchantability. Sherry should be protected if she returns the guitar.

Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, sellers offering a written warranty may not disclaim or mod­ify any implied warranty during the effective period of the written warranty.

Sellers sometimes use disclaimers to limit the con­sumer's remedy. For example, a contract may read, "It is expressly understood and agreed that the buy­er's only remedy shall be repair or replacement of defective parts. The seller is not liable in damages for injury to persons or property." Suppose the warran­ty limits the remedy to "repair or replacement of de­fective parts" and this remedy does not work (that is, after repeated attempts at repair, the product still does not work). In such cases, the buyer can usually seek other remedies. But courts will require that the buyer give the seller a reasonable opportunity to re­pair the product.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

отказ от права на что-л.; ограничить ответствен­ность продавца; неполадки с товаром; как есть (вы­ражение, используемое в текстах официальных соглашений; означает, что покупаемый или постав­ляемый товар принимается приобретающей сторо­ной ровно в том состоянии, в каком находится на момент покупки, со всеми ошибками, неполадками, недоделками или какими-либо другими дефектами); гарантийный период; ограничить возмещение убытка покупателю; быть ответственным; искать другие возможности возмещения ущерба

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is a disclaimer?

2. How do sellers usually disclaim the implied warranty of merchantability?

3. Why must the disclaimer be written?

4. Can sellers disclaim or modify any implied war­ranty during the effective period of the written warranty?

5. How can sellers use disclaimers to limit the con­sumer's remedy?

6. Where can the buyer seek other remedies?

7. Have you ever come across a disclaimer?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Problem-solving.

Mock Trial:

James Phillips v. The Radio Shop

FACTS

In this case, James Phillips purchased a radio/cassette player from The Radio Shop and later attempted to exchange it because it did not work. The date of the sale was November 14; the return was made 10 days later. The sales slip has the following language printed at the bottom: "This product is fully guaranteed for 5 days from the date of the purchase. If defective, return it in the original box for credit toward another purchase."

The store refused to make the exchange, and James brought this action in small claims court

EVIDENCE

James has (1) the sales slip for $79.95 plus tax paid to The Radio Shop and (2) the broken radio/cassette player. He claims to have thrown away the box.

WITNESSES

For the plaintiff:

1. James Phillips

2. Ruby Phillips, James's sister

For the defendant:

1. Al Jackson, the salesperson

2. Hattie Babcock, the store manager

COURT

The judge should provide an opportunity for James to make his case and should give the represen­tatives of the store a chance to tell the court why the money should not be returned. Both sides should call their witnesses. At the end, the judge should decide the case and provide the reasons for the decision.

WITNESS STATEMENT: James Phillips

"I went into The Radio Shop to buy a battery-op­erated, portable radio/cassette player. I looked at a few different models, but the salesperson talked me into buying the Super Electro X-15.1 paid the $79.95 price, and he gave me the radio in a cardboard box. When I got home, I found that it didn't work. I went back to the store to get my money back, but the sales­person wouldn't return it. He said I should have brought it back right away. I explained to him that my mother had been sick and I'd been busy. Here are the broken radio/cassette player and the receipt as proof. I want my money back!"

WITNESS STATEMENT: Ruby Phillips

"All I know is that when James got home the other day, he was excited and wanted to show me some­thing. He called me into the kitchen to show me his new radio/cassette player. I said, 'Let's hear how it works.' He turned it on and nothing came out but static. He moved the dials around but couldn't get it to play. Was he ever mad! I told him that he ought to take it back to the store and demand his money back."

WITNESS STATEMENT: Al Jackson

"I sold the kid the radio, but as far as I know it worked OK. All the table models worked well enough, so why shouldn't the one boxed and straight from the factory? I'll bet what really happened is that he dropped it on his way home. Or maybe he broke it during the 10 days he had it. That's not my fault, is it?"

WITNESS STATEMENT: Hattie Babcock

"As Jackson said, all the other X-15s have worked fine. We've never had a single complaint about them, We have a store policy not to make refunds unless the merchandise is returned within 5 days in the box we sold it in. Also, the guarantee on the product says that it must be returned in the original box. That's the rea­son Jackson didn't give the kid his money back. Otherwise, we'd have been more than happy to give him credit toward a new purchase. After all, pleasing our customers is very important to us. Personally, I agree with Jackson. The kid probably didn't bring back the box because it was all messed up after he dropped it."

What do you think the decision of the judge was?

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

disclaimer	validity
as is	cease to function properly
effective period	attempt to limit the seller's responsibilities should anything go wrong with a product
go wrong	faulty
sales receipt	with all faults
defective	a written acknowledgment by a receiver of goods that payment has been made

 

5. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Отказ от права на что-либо — это попытка ог­раничить ответственность продавца в случае непо­ладок с товаром.

2. Продавцы могут отклонить связанную гаран­тию товарного состояния, используя такие форму­лировки: "без гарантии" или "без ответственности продавца за дефекты".

3. При продаже товара с письменной гарантией продавец не может изменить гарантийные обяза­тельства или уклониться от них в течение срока действия гарантии.

4. В контракте может быть сказано: "Продавец не отвечает за ущерб здоровью или собственности".

5. Если гарантийные обязательства ограничены только ремонтом или заменой неисправных деталей и после нескольких попыток продавцу не удается устранить неполадки с товаром, покупатель может искать другие возможности возмещения ущерба.

 

UNIT 20

Read and translate the texts.

CREDIT

Using credit means buying goods or services now in exchange for a promise to pay in the future. It also means borrowing money now in exchange for a prom­ise to repay it in the future. People who lend money or provide credit are called creditors. People who borrow money or buy on credit are called debtors. Debtors usually pay creditors additional money over the amount borrowed for the privilege of using the cred­it. This additional money owed to the creditor is called the finance charge. It is based on the interest charged plus other fees.

General Types of Credit

The two general types of credit are unsecured and secured. Unsecured credit is credit extended in exchange for a promise to repay in the future. The buyer is not required to pledge property in order to obtain the credit. Most credit cards and store charge accounts are examples of unsecured credit.

Secured credit is credit for which the consumer must put up some property of value, called collateral, as protection in the event the debt is not repaid. A borrower who does not make the required payments is said to default on the loan. If a borrower defaults, the lender can take the collateral.

For example, a person who buys an automobile may be required by the lender (often a bank) to post the car as collateral until the debt is paid off. If the buyer fails to pay off the loan, the lender can repossess and sell the car, using the proceeds of this sale to pay off the debt.

The Cost of Credit

The cost of credit includes interest and other fi­nance charges. Because there are different methods for calculating interest rates, always ask lenders for the annual percentage rate (APR). This number is cal­culated the same way by all lenders, so you can use it to compare rates.

Interest Rates. Each state sets limits on the amount of interest that can be charged for various types of credit. Charging any amount above the legal limit is called usury. Lenders who charge interest rates above the legal maximum may be liable for both civil and criminal penalties.

Interest rate ceilings vary from state to state. Gen­erally, however, loans from banks or finance compa­nies carry interest rates of 10 to 30% per year. Credit card companies and department stores often charge 1.5% per month (18% per year), but these rates can vary widely depending on the lender and the economic conditions at the time. Installment contracts for con­sumer goods such as new cars or furniture also vary widely.

Some companies now offer variable interest rates. For example, such a rate may be described as "2% over the prime rate" or a "10% variable annual percentage rate." With a variable rate, the amount of interest you are charged changes from time to time and is computed based on financial market indicators. That means your rate can go up or down with changing economic conditions. Carefully review the information provid­ed by the lender to determine how often the rate can change and how much it can change at each adjust­ment as well as over the entire term of the loan. When the rate changes, your payments will change. While your payments may start out low, they could increase over time if the rate goes up.

Other Charges. Besides the interest paid on a cred­it sale, there are sometimes other charges that may be added onto the basic price. These include:

• Credit property insurance — Insures the pur­chased item against theft or damage.
• Credit life/disability insurance — Guarantees payment of the balance due if the buyer should die or become disabled during the term of the contract.
• Service charge—Covers the seller's cost of book­keeping, billing, and so on.
• Penalty charge — Covers the seller's inconvenience in case of late payments. May include court costs, repossession expenses, and attorney's fees.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

брать взаймы; давать в долг; должник; стоимость всех элементов кредита; проценты на капитал; необеспеченный кредит; закладывать собственность получить кредит; кредит под залог имущества; га­рантия, поручительство; отказ выплачивать дол­ги; изымать за неплатеж; фактическая стоимость кредита, выраженная в форме процентной ставки; ростовщичество; сильно различаться; плавающая процентная ставка; базисная ставка; штраф

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is credit?

2. Who are creditors and debtors?

3. Do debtors usually pay creditors additional mon­ey over the amount borrowed for the privilege of us­ing the credit? What is this additional money owed to the creditor is called? What is it based on?

4. What are the two general types of credit? What is the difference between them?

5. What is a collateral?

6. What can the lender do if a borrower defaults?

7. What is usury? What happens to lenders who charge interest rates above the legal maximum?

8. Why can interest rates vary widely?

9. What do you know about variable interest rates?

10. What other charges besides the interest paid on a credit sale, may be added onto the basic price?

11. Have you ever obtained a credit?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

credit	additional money owed to the creditor
creditors	credit extended in exchange for a pro­mise to repay in the future
debtors	credit for -which the consumer must put up some property of value
finance charge	to default on the loan
unsecured credit	people who lend money or provide credit
secured credit	charging any amount above the legal limit
collateral	insures the purchased item against theft or damage
not to make the required payments	people who borrow money or buy on credit
usury	buying goods or services now in exchange for a promise to pay in the future or borrowing money now in exchange for a promise to repay it in the future
credit life/ dis­ability insurance	some property of value as protection in the event the debt is not repaid
credit property insurance	covers the seller's inconvenience in case of late payments. May include court costs, repossession expenses, and attorney's fees
service charge	guarantees payment of the balance due if the buyer should die or become disabled during the term of the contract
penalty charge	covers the seller's cost of bookkeeping, billing, and so on

 

5. Problem-solving.

a. Make a list of products or services that you, friends, or family members have bought on credit.

b. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using credit to pay for college or vocational school tu­ition? For a car to get you to work? For a vacation? For clothing to be worn at a formal party?

c. Write some rules that will help you decide when to use credit.

d. Joy tells Linda, "This washing machine is a good buy — only $500. Now, if you don't have the cash, I can arrange easy credit for you. Only $50 down and $50 a month for 12 months. Just sign here." Linda signs and pays $50. How much interest will she pay if the contract calls for 12 monthly payments of $50 each?

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Брать кредит — значит пользоваться товара­ми и услугами сейчас в обмен на обещание опла­тить их позднее.

2. За право пользоваться кредитом дебиторы обычно выплачивают кредиторам дополнительные деньги, сверх суммы кредита.

3. Стоимость всех элементов кредита складыва­ется из процентов на капитал и других выплат.

4. Существует два основных вида кредита — обеспеченный и необеспеченный. Для получения не­обеспеченного кредита должнику не требуется за­кладывать собственность как залог возвращения кредита.

5. При обеспеченном кредите в случае невыпла­ты должником кредита, залоговая собственность изымается в счет погашения долга.

6. Взимание большей процентной ставки по кре­диту, чем разрешено по законодательству данного места, является незаконным.

7. Сегодня некоторые компании предлагают пла­вающую процентную ставку, при которой процент начислений по кредиту может время от времени меняться в зависимости от изменения экономиче­ской ситуации.

8. Помимо основных выплат по кредиту могут назначаться дополнительные выплаты—страхование залогового имущества и жизни дебитора, выплаты за обслуживание кредита, штрафные выплаты.   

 

UNIT 21

Read and translate the text.

CREDIT CARDS AND CHARGE ACCOUNTS

Today, many stores and companies (including banks) issue credit cards and allow their customers to maintain charge accounts. Consumers can use credit cards to buy gasoline, take a vacation, go out to din­ner, and buy furniture, clothing, and many other things. Some of these cards can also be used to obtain cash advances from banks and bank machines.

Credit cards are engraved with the holder's name and identification number. They entitle the holder to buy goods or services on credit. Some companies pro­vide these cards free; some charge a yearly fee, typi­cally between $15 and $75. Consumers are usually giv­en a credit limit and can make purchases up to that limit.

Companies issuing credit cards send out monthly statements indicating how much you owe. Most credit card and charge accounts allow you to pay bills over time, making a minimum monthly payment. You then pay interest on the unpaid amount of the bill. Often, if you pay the entire amount on or before the due date indicated on the bill, there is no extra charge. Howev­er, some companies impose interest charges from the date of the transaction. A few require full payment of money owed each month.

Companies use slightly different methods to com­pute interest. However, you can estimate the month­ly interest charge by multiplying the balance owed by the monthly rate. For example, if the interest rate is 1.5%, you will multiply by 0.015. Suppose you owe a balance of $500.00. The monthly interest charge will be about $7.50 ($500.00 x 0.015), and the total amount owed for the month will be approximately $507.50 ($500.00 + $7.50 interest).

To more easily compare the rates charged by dif­ferent companies, you can ask what annual percent­age rate (APR) is charged. This rate is calculated the same way by all lenders. The APR is the percentage cost of credit on a yearly basis.

When deciding which credit cards or charge accounts to maintain, you should find out the annual fee, if any; the annual percentage rate charged on money owed; and whether interest is charged from the date of the transaction or only on balances unpaid at the end of the billing period. Providers of credit compete with each other to get new customers. Some offer credit without a fee or very low interest for a certain period of time. Annual interest rates may vary by as much as 10 per­centage points. It pays to shop around for credit.

Credit cards are in such wide use today that certain goods and services may be difficult to obtain without one. For example, some car rental companies will not rent to people without a major credit card.

While credit cards are an important convenience for many consumers, others use their cards to obtain "instant loans." They regularly purchase goods and services with credit cards. Then, at the end of the month, they cannot pay the balance. The interest rate on unpaid credit card balances is almost always higher than the interest on a bank loan, so this is not a smart way to take out a loan.

If your credit card is lost or stolen, you should re­port it immediately to the credit card company. For protection, any person with credit cards should keep a list of the following information for each card: (1) the name of the company issuing the card, (2) the ac­count number on the card, and (3) the number to call if the card is lost or stolen.

Many major credit card companies have toll-free 800 telephone numbers. Services offered by the com­panies differ, but generally you can notify them of a stolen or lost credit card, make inquiries about your bill or your account, apply for a credit card, and regis­ter a change of address.

You can obtain toll-free numbers by calling 1-800-555-1212.

If your credit card is lost or stolen, you are not re­sponsible for any unauthorized charges made after you have notified the issuer that the card is missing. The law limits your liability for charges made before notification to $50 per card. If your card was not used but the thief obtained your credit card number and made unauthorized charges, you are not responsible for any of the charges.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

расходный счет; кредит в наличной денежной форме; идентификационный номер; взимать ежегодную плату; кредитный лимит; давать право; еже­месячный расчет; срок платежа; полная сумма; до­полнительные выплаты; назначать процентные выплаты с даты сделки; высчитывать; бороться друг с другом за новых клиентов; подбирать подхо­дящий кредит; широко использоваться; удобство; немедленно сообщить в компанию, выпустившую кредитную карту; бесплатный телефонный номер; уведомить; навести справки; несанкционированные выплаты; ограничивать ответственность

 

2.Answer the questions:

1. How can you use credit cards?

2. What are credit cards engraved with?

3. What do they entitle the holder to do?

4. Are consumers usually given a credit limit? What does it mean?

5. How is interest usually paid? How is it com­puted?

6. When deciding which credit cards or charge accounts to maintain what should you find out?

7. Why does it pay to shop around for credit?

8. Are credit cards in wide use in Russia today? Do you have a credit card?

9. Why is it not a smart way to use credit cards to obtain "instant loans"?

10. What should you do if your credit card is lost or stolen?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

entitle	whole
entire	keep in existence
maintain	calculate
vacation	give the right
compute	establish as something to be obeyed or complied with
cash advance	holiday
impose	inform
notify	loan of money

 

5. Problem-solving.

The Lost Credit Cards

Sally lost her wallet, which contained credit cards from a bank and a retail store. By the time Sally real­ized her wallet was missing, someone had charged $800 on the bank card and $100 on the store account. Does Sally have to pay these bills?

 

6. Problem-solving.

Choose an item you would like to have but could purchase only by using credit.

a. Where could you shop for this credit?

b. What is the APR for each creditor? What other finance charges are required?

 

7. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Покупатели могут использовать кредитные карточки для оплаты за многие товары и услуги.

2. Пользователи кредитных карточек получают ежемесячные расчеты, которые показывают, сколь­ко они должны. Обычно проценты начисляются на эту сумму.

3. Компании, которые предоставляют кредит, бо­рются за новых клиентов.

4. Кредитные карточки используются широко в наше время, некоторые товары или услуги трудно оплатить без помощи кредитных карт. В случае утери кредитной карточки об этом необходимо немедленно сообщить в компанию, выпустившую карточку.

5. О карточке нужно иметь такую информацию: название компании, выпустившей ее; номер счета; телефонный номер, по которому необходимо зво­нить в случае кражи или утери.

6. В случае утери кредитки Вы не отвечаете за все выплаты, которые были по ней совершены по­сле Вашего уведомления о потере.

 

UNIT 22

Read and translate the texts.

EFT CARDS AND DEBIT CARDS

In recent years, many banks have offered their customers electronic funds transfer (EFT) cards. These engraved plastic cards look like credit cards but are not credit cards. Instead, they allow you to with­draw money from your account by using an automat­ic teller machine.

If your EFT card is lost or stolen and you do not notify your bank within two business days after dis­covering its loss, you may be liable for up to $500 in unauthorized withdrawals. If you notify the bank within two business days, your loss is limited to $50.

Some businesses (such as gas stations and grocery stores) are now issuing debit cards to their customers. These cards look like credit cards but work like EFT cards. For example, when a consumer purchases gas­oline using a debit card, the amount of the purchase is transferred immediately from his or her account to the gas station's bank account.

 

BILLING ERRORS

Billing errors can be a real headache. It takes time and energy to sort them out, and they can cost you money if you don't discover them. To avoid billing problems, check all sales slips carefully, save receipts and canceled checks, and go over each bill or monthly statement carefully.   

If you still encounter a problem, the Fair Credit Billing Act provides you with a measure of protection. If you complain in writing about your bill, this law requires creditors to acknowledge and respond to your complaint within 90 days. You may withhold payment of the disputed amount pending the investigation; however, undisputed amounts must be paid as normally required. Until your complaint is settled, the law forbids the creditor from reporting the matter to a credit bureau.        

If it is determined that the bill is correct, you may have to pay a finance charge on the unpaid amount in dispute. However, a creditor who does not follow the requirements of the law may not collect the first $50 of the disputed amount, even if the bill turns out to be accurate. A consumer can sue such a creditor for dam­ages and can also recover attorney's fees.

If you are to receive the protection of the Fair Credit Billing Act, your communication to the creditor must meet certain requirements. As noted, you must complain in writing. Phone calls do not protect your rights under this act. Your notice must be received at the creditor's address for billing error inquiries within 60 days after the statement was first sent to you. In the notice, you must include your name, complete address, and account number. Finally, you must explain why you believe there is a billing error and state the amount of the error.

It is important to follow these requirements when complaining about a bill. Once negative information is reported to a credit bureau, it may be difficult to have it removed.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

банковский автомат; платежная карточка; кар­точка электронных платежей; ошибки при выпис­ке счетов; квитанция; сталкиваться с проблемой; отреагировать на жалобу; в течение расследова­ния; счет оказывается точным; подавать жалобу в письменном виде

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What steps should you take if your EFT card is lost or stolen?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a debit card to pay for purchases?

3. What happens if your EFT card is lost or stolen and you do not notify your bank within two busi­ness days after discovering its loss?

4. What are debit cards? How do they work?

5. How can you avoid billing problems?

6. How must you complain about billing errors?

7. Do you have a debit card?

 

3. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

 

electronic funds transfer cards	receipt
sort out	without error
sales slip	EFT
pending	during
accurate	understand and interpret

 

4. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. В последнее время широкое распространение получили карточки. Эти карточки внешне похожи на кредитные, но они позволяют только снять день­ги со своего счета через банковский автомат.

2. При утере электронной кредитной карточки Вы должны уведомить об этом банк в течение двух рабочих дней.

3. Существуют также платежные (дебитные) карточки, которые позволяют немедленно перевес­ти деньги со счета покупателя на счет продавца.

4. Ошибки при оплате платежными картами мо­гут вызвать ряд проблем. Чтобы избежать их, надо проверить все квитанции.

5. Если Вы обращаетесь с письменной жалобой, закон обязывает кредиторов отреагировать на жа­лобу в течение 90 дней.

 

UNIT 23

Read and translate the texts.

COSTLY CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

Consumers may fall prey to loan sharking. Loan sharks lend money at high, often usurious (illegal) rates of interest. They promise "easy" credit and appeal to people who have problems obtaining and keeping good credit standing.

Usurious loans are illegal under state laws. There are, however, a variety of legal but costly credit ar­rangements that consumers may want to avoid.

Some creditors call for balloon payments in their agreements. In such agreements, the last payment is much larger than the monthly payments. This may make it difficult for you to make the final payment. Consumers should carefully consider any agreement that calls for a large final payment. Be sure you can save up enough to make this payment.

Another thing to avoid in financing agreements is the acceleration clause. This clause permits the creditor to accelerate the loan, making all future payments due im­mediately in the event a consumer misses a single pay­ment. Most auto sales finance agreements have acceler­ation clauses. If you miss a payment, you may suddenly owe the creditor the entire amount of the loan. Many cars are repossessed by lenders for this reason.

You should also beware of bill consolidation. This means combining all your debts into a single one. Lend­ers sometimes claim you can wipe out all your bills by making easy monthly payment to them, which they will distribute to your creditors. However, the consolidation loan may require payments over a longer period of time and at a higher rate of interest Some lenders also charge a substantial fee for these loans. They may subtract the fee from your monthly payment to them before paying off your creditors, so you wind up falling deeper in debt.

TRUTH IN LENDING

To prevent credit abuses, Congress passed the Truth in Lending Act. This law requires creditors to give you certain basic information about the cost of buying on credit. The creditor must tell you — in writ­ing and before you sign a contract — the finance charge and the annual percentage rate. The finance charge is the total amount you pay to use the credit, including interest charges and any other fees. The APR is the percentage cost of credit on a yearly basis.

The law requires creditors to give you special in­formation about variable-rate loans if you are being offered this plan. Remember that with these plans, your payments may increase over time.

The law also requires that consumers be given a copy of the disclosure form containing the credit in­formation. They must also be told the rules and charges for any late payments. Violators can be subject to both civil and criminal penalties, and consumers who sue creditors under this act may recover damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.

 

Using Credit

• Credit costs money. Don't buy things you don't need or want. Resist high-pressure safes techniques.
• Determine how much debt you can handle.
• Comparison shop for credit. If you are suspicious about a lender, check to see if the lender is licensed and whether complaints have been filed.
• Before making a credit purchase, read and un­derstand the entire contract. Don't sign contracts with blank spaces.
• If a contract calls for a large final payment, be sure you can afford it.
• Once you've signed a credit agreement, keep a copy in a safe place. Keep receipts for each payment.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

стать жертвой; ростовщик; погашение кредита один раз полной суммой; условие ускоренного пла­тежа по ссуде; большие выплаты; объединение сче­тов; вычесть выплаты из ежемесячных взносов; пе­ред расплатой с кредиторами; злоупотребления в вопросах кредитования; стоимость всех элементов кредита; условия плавающей процентной ставки; условия оплаты и дополнительные издержки при задержках с выплатами взносов; нарушитель; не поддаваться на уговоры продавцов

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. How can consumers fall prey to loan sharking. Who are loan sharks?

2. Are usurious loans illegal under state laws?

3. What are balloon payments? Why should con­sumers carefully consider any agreement that calls for a large final payment?

4. What is the acceleration clause and why should  consumers avoid it in financing agreements?

5. Why should you also beware of bill consolida­tion?

6. What is done to prevent credit abuses? What does the Truth in Lending Act require creditors to do?

7. Are there such (or similar) laws in Russia?

8. You've read some advice concerning credit. Which piece do you find most useful? Why?

9. Where can consumers go to comparison shop for a loan?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

usurious	it permits the creditor to accelerate the loan, making all future payments due immediately in the event a consumer misses a single payment
balloon payment	liquidate
acceleration clause	the total amount you pay to use the credit, including interest charges and any other fees
bill consolidation	corrupt practice
wind up	the last payment is much larger than the monthly payments
abuse	illegal
finance charge	disturber
violator	combining all your debts into a single one

 

5. Problem-solving.

 

The Hidden Charges

Chang buys a new guitar amplifier on an install­ment plan. When he receives the itemized bill, he dis­covers that he owes a total of $745, though the price of the amp was only $553. He calls the music store and is told that he is paying more than 20 percent interest. He would never have bought the amp if he'd known it would cost this much. What mistakes did Chang make? What can he do now?

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. При получении кредита люди могут стать жертвой обмана. Ростовщики предлагают деньги под очень высокий процент и обещают помощь в получении кредита. Это предложение рассчитано на тех, кому трудно получить обычный кредит. Вы­дача подобных кредитов запрещена законом.

2. Некоторые кредиторы предлагают условия погашения кредита за один раз полной суммой, ус­ловие ускоренного платежа по ссуде и объедине­ние счетов. Перед заключением сделок на этих ус­ловиях надо все тщательно обдумать.

3. Существуют законы, запрещающие злоупот­ребления в вопросах кредитования.

4. Закон предписывает кредиторам предоставить в письменном виде до подписания контракта необ­ходимую информацию о кредите.

5. Нарушители закона могут быть привлечены к административной и уголовной ответственности.

6. Перед оформлением кредита надо решить, действительно ли Вам необходимо приобретение данной вещи и можете ли Вы ее себе позволить.

7. Перед приобретением вещи в кредит необхо­димо прочитать и понять весь контракт. Не реко­мендуется подписывать контракт с пропусками.

8. После подписания контракта сохраняйте кви­танции о всех произведенных выплатах.

 

UNIT 24

Read and translate the texts.

WHAT LENDERS WANT TO KNOW BEFORE EXTENDING CREDIT

Any store, bank, or credit card company that ex­tends credit to consumers wants to know that the money will be repaid. Before making a loan, the cred­itor will want to know several things about the con­sumer:

• Is the consumer a reliable person? (For example, a person who moves or changes jobs frequently might not be considered reliable.)
• Does the consumer have a steady income that is likely to continue into the future?
• Is the consumer's income high enough to enable him or her to pay for the items to be purchased?
• Does the consumer have a good record in paying off other loans and bills?

Creditors are in business to make money; thus, it is understandable that they would ask questions such as these. However, creditors have sometimes unfairly denied credit for reasons such as the debtor's race, sex, or source of income (such as public assistance or alimony). Today a federal law, the Equal Credit Op­portunity Act, protects consumers against credit dis­crimination based on sex, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, old age, or source of income.

The Federal Trade Commission handles credit discrimination complaints against finance companies, retail stores, oil companies, and travel and entertainment credit card companies. Bank regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Reserve Board and the Comptroller of the Currency, handle complaints against banks and bank credit cards. If you think you have been discriminated against, you may complain to one of these agencies or sue the creditor in court.

Many states also have laws that forbid credit discrimination. Complaints should be directed to the state or local consumer affairs office or human rights commission.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE DENIED CREDIT

If you ever apply for credit, the creditor will eval­uate your application according to certain standards. The creditor may investigate you personally or may pay a credit bureau to check your credit word. Many creditors do both. There are thousands of credit bu­reaus across the country. Financial and personal in­formation about consumers is often stored in comput­ers and may be passed among the various bureaus. Information about you in a credit bureau's files can be a key factor in determining whether you get loans, credit cards, or other forms of credit in the future.

If a credit report indicates that you are a poor risk, the creditor will probably deny credit. Also, if you are trying to get credit for the first time and have no credit record at all, the creditor may deny credit. Sometimes creditors decide to deny credit based solely on information in the application, without taking the time to order a credit report.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act says that credi­tors must tell consumers why they were turned down. The reasons given must be specific. For example, "ap­plicant does not meet our standards" is not specific enough. On the other hand, "insufficient income" is a specific reason. It tells you how your circumstances must change to qualify for credit.

Another federal law protects you from inaccurate credit bureau reporting. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires creditors who deny credit based on informa­tion received from a credit bureau to tell you that fact. The creditor must also give you the name and address of the credit bureau that supplied the report.

Every consumer has the rights to learn the nature of information in his or her credit file. Although credit bureau are not required to show consumers copies of the actual file, they must disclose the nature and sub­stance of the information it contains.

If you discover false, misleading, incomplete, irrel­evant, or out-of-date information in your file, you can require the credit bureau to recheck its information and correct the errors. If the credit bureau does not cooperate in correcting your credit file, you may com­plain to reinvestigating the information the bureau still believes that it is correct, you have the right to have your version of the dispute inserted in the file. If the information being reported about you is accurate, the credit bureau can report it for seven years.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

надежный человек; иметь постоянный доход; несправедливый отказ в кредите; алименты; социаль­ная помощь; дискриминация при получении креди­та; семейное положение; источник дохода; магазин торгующий в розницу; контролер денежного обра­щения; федеральное резервное обращение; комис­сия по правам человека; оценить заявку на кредит в соответствии с определенными стандартами; ба­зироваться только на информации в заявлении; не­достаточный доход; получить право на кредит; кар­тотека кредитной информации; отдел кредитов; устарелая информация; перепроверить информа­цию и исправить ошибки

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What do lenders usually want to know before extending credit? Why do they want to know all these points?

2. What reasons can be for unfairly denied credit?

3. Who handles credit discrimination complaints?

4. How do creditors evaluate applications?

5. What do credit bureaus do?

6. Why can the creditor deny credit if you are trying to get it for the first time?

7. What does the Equal Credit Opportunity Act say?

8. What does the Fair Credit Reporting Act re­quire creditors to do?

9. What can you require if you discover false, misleading, incomplete, irrelevant, or out-of-date information in your credit file?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

unfairly denied credit	an account in permanent form, esp. in writing, preserving knowledge or information about facts or events
qualify for	able to be trusted
record	judge or assess the worth of; appraise
reliable	be provided with the abilities or attributes necessary for smth.
steady	credit discrimination
evaluate	inquire into a situation or problem thoroughly; examine systematically, esp. in order to discover the truth
investigate	make information known
solely	essence, meaning
turn down	erroneous
disclose	reject or refuse
substance	not relating or pertinent to the matter at hand
inaccurate	only
irrelevant	regular

 

5. Problem-solving.

You are a loan officer at a local bank. Each of the following people is seeking a loan. Based on the information provided, evaluate each applicant and make decision regarding each loan request. Discuss your reasons for granting or denying credit.

a. Alice Johnson is the mother of four children. Her only income consists of public assistance payments of $420 per month and $80 per month from the pension of her deceased husband. She wishes to buy a new over and refrigerator totalling $700. She lives in a public housing development. Her rent and other expense usually total about $375 a month.

b. Jerry Levitt is a carpenter seeking work wherever he can find it Depending on the weather and other factors, he is subject to seasonal unemployment. He currently brings home about $650 per month and has car payments of $150 a month, TV payments of $105 a month, rent of $220 a month, and no money in the bank. He would like to borrow $2,500 to buy a motorcycle.

c. Barbara Griego, 22, is in her second year of col­lege. She has excellent grades and plans to attend medical school after graduation. Until recently, her parents paid her bills, but she is now on her own. She is seeking $2,000 for her college tuition and expenses. She has never borrowed money before, but she plans to repay all loans after finishing medical school.

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Каждый кредитор хочет быть уверен, что получит свои деньги назад.

2. Перед предоставлением кредита кредитор выясняет, является ли клиент надежным человеком со стабильным доходом, как он возвращал предос­тавленные ранее кредиты.

3. Иногда клиенту отказывают в кредите из-за его расы, пола, источника дохода, семейного положе­ния, религиозной или национальной принадлежно­сти, возраста. Это незаконно, так как является дискриминацией.

4. При обращении за кредитом кредитор будет оценивать вашу заявку на кредит в соответствии с  определенными стандартами. Он может навести справки о Вас лично или обратиться за помощью в отдел кредитования.

5. Если Вы впервые обращаетесь за кредитом, Вам могут отказать. Иногда решение об отказе в кредите базируется только на информации в заяв­лении.

6. Закон о равных правах на получение кредита обязывает кредиторов объяснять причину отказа в предоставлении кредита.

7. Закон о предоставлении точной информации о заемщиках обязывает кредиторов, в случае отказа в предоставлении кредита на основании информа­ции, полученной в отделе кредитования, сообщить об этом заемщику, указав при этом название и ад­рес отдела кредитования.

8. В случае предоставлении о Вас неверной, вво­дящей в заблуждение, неполной, не относящейся к делу или устарелой информации, Вы можете по­требовать от отдела кредитования перепроверить информацию и исправить ошибки.

 

UNIT 25

Reed and translate the texts.

DEFAULT AND COLLECTION PRACTICES

Consumers who use credit sometimes have difficulty making all their payments. Problems can arise because the consumer is overextended or too deeply in debt. Problems can also arise because of unexpected unemployment, family illness, or a variety of other reasons. A consumer who is unable or unwilling to pay a debt goes into default.

What a Consumer Can Do in Case of Default

If you have problems paying your bills, you should consider the following options:

1. Reassess your financial lifestyle to determine where the problem arose. If you are not already on a budget, consider starting one.

2. Notify each creditor of the problem and ask to have the term of debt extended (leading to smaller monthly payments) or to have the amount of the debt reduced or refinanced. Keep in mind that refinancing over a longer period usually results in increased finance charges.

3. Contact a consumer credit counseling service or a family service agency that offers free or low-cost financial counseling.

4. Seek assistance from friends or relatives to re­duce the debt to a manageable level.

 

Bankruptcy

If these steps do not resolve your problem, you may have to declare bankruptcy. This is a procedure through which a person places assets under the control of a fed­eral court in order to be relieved of debt. In recent years, an enormous number of bankruptcies have been filed in the United States. In 1991-1992, more than 70% of the civil cases filed in federal court were bankruptcies.

Under Chapter 13 of the federal bankruptcy law, a wage earner can make an arrangement, supervised by a federal court, to pay off some or all of what is owed to creditors over an extended period of time. A more severe form of bankruptcy is called a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Under Chapter 7, the federal court takes control of most of the debtor's assets (some states al­low the debtor to keep certain items), sells them, and pays off as much debt as possible. Generally, the mon­ey received from the sale of the assets is not enough to fully pay all creditors.

A declaration of bankruptcy has serious long-term consequences for the debtor. Records of personal bankruptcy remain in credit reports for 10 years. Even after that time, it may be very difficult to obtain credit or borrow money. In addition, some debts are not wiped out through bankruptcy. Taxes, alimony, child support, and student loans must still be repaid.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

неожиданная потеря работы; объявлять себя банкротом; пересмотреть; составлять финансовую смету; продлить срок выплаты долга; объявить банкротство; поместить имущество под контроль федерального суда; огромное количество; долгосрочные последствия       

 

2. Answer the questions: 

1. Why do consumers who use credit sometimes have difficulty making all their payments?

2. What steps should be taken by a consumer who is unable to pay his bills?

3. What is default?

4. What is bankruptcy? How does the procedure work?

5. What consequences does a declaration of bank­ruptcy have for the debtor?

6. Are there any laws in Russia concerning de­fault and bankruptcy?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

default	the act or an instance of choosing or deciding
bankruptcy	restriction on expenditure
option	failure to meet a financial obligation
on a budget	great
assets	working person
enormous	result or effect of some previous occurrence
wage earner	the property available to an executor or administrator for settlement of the debts and payment of legacies of a deceased person's estate any property owned by a person or firm
consequence	procedure through which a person places assets under the control of a federal court in order to be relieved of debt

 

 

 

5. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Иногда потребители не могут выплатить кредит из-за слишком большого количества долгов, неожиданной потери работы, болезни или многих других причин.

2. В случае невозможности (нежелания) выпла­ты долга должник объявляет себя банкротом.

3. Если у Вас возникли проблемы с выплатой кредита, Вам необходимо пересмотреть свои расходы, составить финансовую смету и выявить причину возникновения проблемы.

4. Уведомите кредиторов о Ваших проблемах и попросите о продлении срока выплаты долга.

5. Если ничего сделать невозможно, Вам придется объявить банкротство. В таком случае имущество должника берется под контроль федерального суда для последующей продажи с целью выпла­ты долга.

6. Объявление банкротства имеет долгосрочные последствия для должника. В дальнейшем ему бу­дет очень трудно получить кредит.

7. Даже объявление банкротства не освобождает от выплаты налогов, алиментов, денег на содер­жание детей, кредитов на получение образования.

 

UNIT 26

Read and translate the texts.

CREDITOR COLLECTION PRACTICES

Creditors have many ways of collecting money from consumers who are unwilling or unable to pay their debts. It is understandable that creditors will take ac­tion to recover money or property owed them. How­ever, in the past, some bill collectors engaged in unsa­vory practices. As a result, some debtors suffered fam­ily problems, lost their jobs, and had their privacy in­vaded.

These practices prompted Congress to pass the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in 1978. This act protects consumers from abusive and unfair collection prac­tices by professional debt collectors. It does not apply to creditors collecting their own bills. Under the act, the debt collector's communications are limited to rea­sonable times and places. False or misleading state­ments as well as acts of harassment or abuse are strictly prohibited.

Calls and Letters

If you receive unreasonable or harassing phone calls or letters from a debt collector, you should re­port the collection practice to the Federal Trade Com- mission or to your local consumer protection agency. Under federal law, you can send bill collectors a notice demanding that all collection contacts cease. You might still owe the money, but the collection contacts would have to stop. You should also consider contact­ing the phone company, which has the power to re­move telephones from anyone using them for harass­ment.

Repossession

As mentioned earlier, consumers sometimes post collateral when they take out a loan or sign credit sales contracts. The creditor can usually repossess, or take back, the collateral if the borrower defaults on the loan or obligation. Most states do not permit creditors to repossess if repossession would involve violence or a breach of the peace.

Once the collateral has been repossessed, the cred­itor can sell it and then apply the proceeds of the sale to the amount owed. Debtors are also charged for any costs incurred in the repossession and sale. After the sale, the debtor is entitled to get back any amount re­ceived by the seller that is in excess of the amount owed (plus expenses). However, if the sale brings in less than the amount owed (plus expenses), the debt­or must still pay the difference.

Court Action

As a last resort, creditors may sue debtors in court for the exact amount owed on the debt. At times, the trouble and expense of suing in court make creditors avoid this method. However, creditors often sue debt­ors in small claims court.

Just because you are sued does not mean the cred­itor is entitled to collect the disputed amount. Consumers often have legitimate defenses, such as the fact that the goods were defective. As a result, if you ever receive a summons to go to court, don't ignore it. If you cannot appear in court on the date set in the summons, contact the court clerk in advance to arrange for a postponement of the trial. In addition, contact a law­yer immediately. If you are unable to afford one, you may call the local legal services or legal aid office.

The main thing to avoid when being sued is a de­fault judgment This is a judgment entered for the plaintiff (creditor) and against the defendant (debt­or). Most default judgments occur because the defen­dant simply fails to show up in court.

Garnishment and Attachment

A creditor who wins a court judgment against a consumer may still have trouble collecting if the con­sumer does not pay voluntarily. It was once common practice to have people imprisoned for not paying debts; however, this is no longer allowed.

One solution creditors use is to get a court order that forces the debtor's employer to withhold part of the debtor's wages and pay it directly to the creditor. This is called garnishment. The federal Wage Garnish­ment Act limits the amount that can be garnished to 25% of the debtor's take-home pay (pay after taxes and social security deductions). Persons who are em­ployed by the federal government or who receive oth­er federal money, such as welfare or unemployment compensation, cannot have their income garnished (unless the money is used to meet court-ordered child support payments). The act also prohibits employers from firing employees who have their wages garnished for a single debt. State laws may further limit and sometimes completely prohibit garnishment.

Creditors can also get possession of a debtor's mon­ey or property by attachment. This is a court order that forces a bank to pay the creditor out of a con­sumer's bank account or that allows the court to seize the consumer's property and sell it to satisfy the debt.

 

1. Find the equivalents of the following words and expressions in the text:

получать деньги; возвращать деньги; быть заме­шанным в грязные дела; вмешаться в личную жизнь; побуждать; агент по взысканию долгов; при­теснение; оскорбительный телефонный звонок; на­рушение общественного порядка; превышать сум­му долга; законная защита; юридическая консуль­тация; заочное решение суда; истец; ответчик; на­ложение ареста на деньги должника, находящиеся у третьего лица; пособие по безработице; конфи­сковать имущество

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What ways of collecting money from consum­ers who are unwilling or unable to pay their debts do creditors have?

2. What act protects consumers from abusive and unfair collection practices by professional debt col­lectors? What was it prompted by?

3. Does this act apply to creditors collecting their own bills?

4. What is limited and prohibited under this act?

5. What is repossession?

6. Why should people avoid a default judgment when being sued?

7. What is the difference between garnishment and attachment?

8. Who cannot have their income garnished?

9. Why may state laws further limit and some­times completely prohibit garnishment?

 

3. Say in a few words what the text is about.

 

4. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right:

invade	complainant
prompt	court order that forces the debtor's employer to withhold part of the debtor's wages and pay it directly to the creditor
plaintiff	urge
defendant	take possession
garnishment	violate
attachment	accused
seize	court order that forces a bank to pay the creditor out of a consumer's bank account or that allows the court to seize the consumer's property and sell it to satisfy the debt

 

5. Problem-solving.

The Missed Payment

Orlando buys a used car from Top Value Cars for $1,200 and signs a contract calling for monthly pay­ments for three years. After paying $800, he misses a payment because of large doctor bills. Leaving home one morning, he finds that the car is gone. Top Value has hired someone to repossess the car in the middle of the night.

a. Assume that Top Value sells the car for $500 and incurs expenses of $200 in the repossession and sale. Will Orlando get money back, or will he still owe money to Top Value (even though he no longer has the car)? How much is owed, and to whom?

b. Is the action taken by Top Value legal? Do you think the repossession laws are fair? What arguments could creditors make in support of these laws? What arguments could debtors make against them?

 

6. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Существует много способов взыскания креди­торами денег.

2. Закон защищает должников от неправомерных действий агентов по взысканию долгов.

3. Кредиторы могут изымать залоговое имущество, если должник не может вернуть деньги, но это не должно сопровождаться насилием или наруше­нием общественного порядка.

4. Если стоимость залогового имущества превыша­ет величину долга, должнику возвращают разницу.

5. Кредиторы могут подать в суд на должника.

6. В случае неявки должника в суд, выносится за­очное решение суда.

7. На деньги и собственность должника может быть наложен арест.

8. Арест не может быть наложен на деньги тех, кто работает в федеральном правительстве, получает такие деньги от правительства как социальные пособия и пособия по безработице.

9. Закон запрещает увольнять сотрудников, на чьи зарплаты наложен арест за один долг.

 

Vocabulary

A

acceptance	принятие, получение, прием, одобрение, признание
access	доступ
accommodation	помещение
according	согласно
account	отчёт, расчёт, счёт
accuse	обвинять
achievable	достижимый, выполнимый
achieve a goal	достигать цели
ad	реклама
additional charges	дополнительные расходы
adequate quantity of the goods	достаточное количество товара
adjustment	приспособление
adult	взрослый
advantage	преимущество
advertise	рекламировать
advertised product	рекламируемый продукт
affair	дело
affect	(воз)действовать, затрагивать
afford	позволять себе
agreement	договор, соглашение
allow	разрешать, признавать дейст­вительным
amount	количество, сумма
announce	объявлять
announcement	объявление
annual	годовой, ежегодник
appeal	подавать на апелляцию, обра­щаться, обжаловать
appliance	прибор, приспособление
application	заявление
apply	обращаться
apply to	относиться к
approach	приближаться
appropriate action	соответствующее действие
approximate	приблизительный
arbitration	третейский суд, арбитраж
arbitrator	арбитр
arise	происходить, возникать
arrange	устраивать, расставлять
ask replacement or refund	потребовать замену товара или воз­мещение денег
assert	утверждать
assistance	помощь, содействие, поддержка
associate products	связывать изделия, товары
associate	коллега
association	ассоциация, общество, союз, связь
assault	нападение
assume	принимать на себя
assure	уверять
at least	по крайней мере
attempt to influence	пытаться повлиять
attorney	юрист, поверенный, адвокат
attract attention	привлекать внимание
audience	публика
authorize	уполномочивать, разрешать
available	достижимый, доступный, имеющийся в наличии
avoid	избегать, сторониться
award	награда, возмещение, награждать, присуждать
aware	знающий

 

B

 

bait	приманка
bait-and-switch technique	техника "кнута и пряника"
balance rights and responsibilities	сбалансировать права и обязанности
ban	запрещение, запрещать
band	группа
bargain	удачная покупка, сделка
bargaining	ведение переговоров, заключение сделки
barrister	адвокат
be available	быть в наличии
be geared toward	быть ориентированным на
be persistent	быть настойчивым
beforehand	заранее
beneficial	полезный
benefit	выгода, польза
binding	принудительный, обязательный
bookkeeping	бухгалтерия
borrow	занимать
bound	обязательный, ограничивать
brand name	торговая марка
breach	нарушать
breast milk	грудное молоко
on smb's behalf	в интересах кого-либо, от имени кого-то

 

C

 

 

Calculate	подсчитывать
cancel	отменять, аннулировать
careful consumer/shopper	осторожный покупатель
carefully	тщательно
carry out	проводить, выполнять
cash	наличные
catchy	броский
cause	являться причиной
cautious	осторожный
caveat emptor	пусть покупатель будет бдителен
cease	прекращать
certain	определенный, известный
chain	цепь
change	мелочь, сдача
charge	обвинение, обвинять, плата, назна­чать цену
check	проверять
circumstance	обстоятельство
city civil trial court	гражданский процессуальный суд
civil law	гражданское право
claim v	претендовать, притязать, требовать, предъявлять иск, заявлять о своих правах на что-либо
claim n	требование, иск
clear up	выяснять
club's regular members' price	цена для постоянных членов клуба
commission	комиссия, полномочия, поручение, комиссионные
commit a crime	совершать преступление
commitment	обязательство
community	общество, община
compare	сравнивать, сопоставлять
comparison	сравнение
compete	соревноваться
competing brands	торговые марки конкурентов
competitor	конкурент
complain	жаловаться
complaint	жалоба
complete	заканчивать
comply	подчиняться
comprehensive	исчерпывающий
concerning	относительно
condemn murder	осуждать убийство
condition	обстоятельство, положение, состоя­ние, условие
conduct of people	поведение людей
confusion	путаница
connect	соединять, связывать согласие, разрешение
consent	считать, полагать
consider	рассмотрение
consideration	принимая во внимание
considering	потребитель
consumer	защита прав потребителя
consumer protection	связаться с продавцом
contact the seller	содержать
contain	удобный
convenient	разговор
conversation	признанный
convicted	виновным
convince	убеждать
cooling-off period	период на обдумывание
corporate	корпоративный, общий
cost	стоить
costly	дорогостоящий
council	городской совет
court	суд
cover	содержать, охватывать
credit	кредит, долг
credit term	условия кредита
creditor	кредитор
criminal offence	уголовное преступление
customer	заказчик
criminal court	уголовный суд

 

D

 

 

damage	вред, убыток, порча, ущерб
deal with	иметь дело с кем-либо, заниматься
deal	сделка, заключать сделку с…
dealer	дилер
debt	долг
deceive	обманывать
deceptive	обманчивый
decision	решение
decree	указ, решение
deemed necessary	считаемый необходимым
defendant	ответчик, обвиняемый, подсудимый
defraud	обман, надувать, обманывать
deliver	доставлять, вручать
denial	отрицание, отказ
denied credit	отклоненный кредит
deny	отрицать
department	ведомство, отдел
depend	полагаться, зависеть
describe	описывать
description	описание
design	задумывать, проектировать, проект
determine	устанавливать, определять, решать
determine the outcome	определить исход
direct	прямой, открытый
directory	справочник, указатель
disability	бессилие, инвалидность
disclaimer	отказ от ответственности
disclose	раскрывать
discover	обнаруживать
discredit	дискредитировать
dismissal	отставка, увольнение
disorder	беспорядок
disparage	позорить, оскорблять, дискредити­ровать, унижать
dispute	ссора, спор, оспаривать
divorce	развод
door-to-door	доставка до дома
drug	наркотик, медикамент
duration	продолжительность

 

E

educate	давать образование, просвещать
enable	давать право
encourage	поощрять
enforce	приводить в жизнь, предписывать
enforceable	осуществимый
engage	нанимать
entertainment	забава, развлечение
entire	весь
entitle	давать право
equal	равный
equipment	оборудование
erroneous view	ошибочное мнение
essential	существенный, важнейший
estate	имущество
evaluate	оценивать
evidence	очевидный
exact	точный, аккуратный
exaggeration	преувеличение
excessively	чрезмерно
exchange	обмен
exclude	исключать
exist	существовать
expect	ожидать, рассчитывать
expense	стоимость, издержки
expensive	дорогой
explain	объяснять, оправдывать
extend	простираться, тянуться
extremely	чрезвычайно
encouragement	поощрение, поддержка
enter	вступать
estimate	предварительно подсчитывать, оце­нивать
example	пример
fail	отказаться
failure	неспособность, неудача, неуспех, провал
fall victim	стать жертвой
false	ложный
faraway	отдаленный
fault	вина, недостаток
Federal Trade Commission	Федеральная Торговая Комиссия
fee	плата, гонорар
felon	уголовный преступник
felonious	преступный, умышленный
felony	категория тяжких преступлений, по степени опасности находящаяся между изменой и мисдиминором
file a suit	подать иск
fill the blanks	заполнить пропуски
finance	финансы, управление финансами
fine	пеня, штраф
for protection	для защиты
forbid	запрещать
force	сила
fraud	обман, мошенничество, преступление
free public education	бесплатное государственное образо­вание
free samples	бесплатные образцы
freedom	свобода
frequent	многократный, частый
frequently	часто
furthermore	к тому же, кроме того, более того

 

G

gather	собирать, полагать, собираться, скап­ливаться
guarantee	гарантия
guardian	опекун
give preference	отдавать предпочтение
grocery	бакалейный магазин

 

H

harm	вред
harsh	резкий
hearing	слушание
higher commission	более высокие комиссионные
higher-priced item	единица товара по более высокой цене
holder	держатель
honest	честный
honor	платить в срок по векселю
halt	останавливать
hardware	скобяные изделия
harmful	вредный
heardquarters	центральный орган к.-л. организации, штаб-квартира (corporate head quarters – штаб-квартира корпорации)

 

I

identify	устанавливать личность, отождест­влять
illegal	нелегальный, незаконный
immoral	аморальный
implied	подразумеваемый, основанный на неоп­ровержимой правовой презумпции
impose	налагать
imprison	заключать в тюрьму
in addition	в дополнение
in limited circumstances	при определенных условиях
in response to advertising	в ответ на рекламу
in the event	в случае
inaccurate	неточный
inadequate nourishment	недостаточное питание
include	включать в себя, содержать, включать
incomplete	неполный
inconvenience	затруднение, неудобство
inconvenient	неудобный
increase	увеличивать
incur	подвергаться, следовать, навлекать на себя
indicate	указывать
infant	младенец
infer	делать вывод, наводить на мысль, подразумевать
influence	влияние, влиять
injury	повреждение, вред
insincere offer	неискреннее предложение
insist	настаивать
inspect	осматривать
installation	установление
instance	инстанция, пример, отдельный случай
instant loan	немедленный заём
instead	вместо
insufficient	недостаточный
income	доход
insurance	страхование
interest	процент
introductory offer	вводное предложение
investigate	расследовать
involve	вовлекать, включать
issue	выпускать, исход, выход, выпуск
item	предмет, единица товара

J

jail	тюрьма
jail term	тюремный срок
judge	судья
jurisprudence	юриспруденция

 

L

label	ярлык, этикетка
labor	рабочая сила
lack	недостаток
lawless	неправомерный, противоправный
lawsuit	судебный процесс (тяжба)
legal action	правовой акт
legal advertising	законное рекламирование
legal philosophy	правовая философия
legal system	законодательная система
legally bound to do smth.	юридическая обязанность делать что-либо
legally competent	юридически компетентный (дееспо­собный)
legislation	законодательство
legislature	законодательный орган
lend	одалживать
lender	кредитор
liable	обязанный, подверженный, подлежа­щий
limit	предел, ограничение
limited quantity	ограниченное количество
listed	внесенный в список
listing	распечатка, листинг
loan	заем
loan shark	ростовщик
lobby	склонять на свою сторону
local agency	местное агентство
locate	определять местонахождение, нахо­диться
location	размещение
log	торговый чек
lose	терять
loss	потеря, утрата, убыток
low-cost	дешевый

 

M

maintain order	поддерживать порядок
maintain	обслуживать
major	главный
manufacturer	изготовитель
meantime	тем временем
mediate	быть посредником
mediator	посредник
meet one's needs	соответствовать запросам
mentally ill or intoxicated	умственно больной или находящийся под действием спиртного или нар­котиков
mention	упоминание, упоминать
merchandise	товар
merely	просто
message	сообщение
minor cases	незначительные судебные дела
minor theft	мелкая кража
minor	несовершеннолетний, младший
misdemeanour	правонарушитель (мисдиминор — категория наименее опасных пре­ступлений, граничащих с админи­стративными правонарушениями)
mislead	ввести в заблуждение
misleading	обманчивый, вводящий в заблуждение
misrepresent	ввести в заблуждение
misstate	делать ложные заявления
misunderstanding	непонимание
misuse	неправильное использование
monitor	контролировать, наблюдать, следить, прослушивать
monthly	ежемесячно
multiply	умножать
murder	убийство
mutual	взаимный

 

N

nearly	почти
necessary	необходимый
necessities	предметы первой необходимости
negligence	халатность
new releases	новые выпуски
notice	замечание
notify	уведомлять
notion	понятие
nutrition	питание

 

O

obligation	обязательство
obtain	приобретать
obvious	очевидный
occasion	случай
occupation	занятие
occur	попадаться, случаться
offender	правонарушитель, преступник
offer by one party	предложение одной стороной
on smb’s behalf	от имени кого-либо
opinion	мнение
opportunity	возможность
oppressive	репрессивный
orally	устно
order	заказ, приказ, порядок
otherwise	иначе
utstanding reputation	выдающаяся репутация
owe	задолжать

 

P

participation	участие
particular	особенно
particularly	особенно
party	сторона
penalty	наказание, штраф
penalty for a felony	судебно наказуемый проступок
percentage	процент
perfect condition	отличное состояние
permission	позволение, разрешение
permit	позволять, разрешать, давать возможность
persuade	убеждать
pertinent	уместный, подходящий
place under supervision	помещать под наблюдение
point out	указывать
polite	вежливый, любезный
poor-quality merchandise	товары низкого качества
portion	часть
possession	владение
postponement	отсрочка
pre-industrial society	доиндустриальное общество
preselected	заданный, предварительно установленный
pressure	давление, напряжение, принуждать
prevent	предотвращать
primary	первостепенный
prison	тюрьма
probably	вероятно
professional associations	профессиональная ассоциация
prohibit	запрещать
promise	обещать
promote order and stability	обеспечивать порядок и стабильность
promote	обеспечивать, повышать (в должности), рекламировать, поддержи­вать, содействовать, продвигать
promotion	содействие, продвижение, стимуля­ция сбыта
prosecute	обвинять, преследовать
protect basic human rights	защищать права человека
protect the environment	защищать окружающую среду
protect the rights of minorities	защищать права меньшинства
protection of life	защита жизни
protection	покровительство, защита
prove	доказывать
provide	обеспечивать, снабжать, предусмат­ривать, предоставлять, обеспечивать
punish	наказывать
purchase	покупать, покупка, купленная вещь, доход
purpose	цель, намерение
pursue	преследовать, осуществлять, следовать

 

Q

qualify	уточнять оценивать, квалифициро­вать, давать определение
quality	качество
quantity	количество
/limited/ quantity	ограниченное количество
quardian	опекун
quick	быстрый

 

R

гаге	редкий
rate	норма, расценка, тариф
ratify	ратифицировать
real estate	недвижимость
reason	причина
reasonable	умеренный, разумный, приемлемый
receipt	квитанция, получение, денежные по­ступления, платежи
receive	получать
recognize	признавать
recommend	рекомендовать
recover of damages	возмещать убытки
reduce	уменьшать, сокращать
refer	направлять, отсылать
reflect	отражать
refund	возврат денег, возмещение расходов
regarding	относительно
regulation	устав
reinstallation	переустановка
reject	отклонять, отвергать
relate	относиться
reliability	надежность
reliable	надёжный, прочный
remaining	остающийся, остальной
remedy	средство, возмещать мера (против чего-л.), средство судебной защиты
rental	сумма арендной платы, сдача внаем
repay	выплачивать, отдавать долг, возмещать)
replacement	замена (товара)
represent the will of the majority	представлять волю большинства
represent	представлять
reputable business people	бизнесмены с хорошей репутацией
reputable	почтенный, достойный
require	требовать, нуждаться
rescission	аннулирование
resolve conflict	разрешать конфликт
resorting to the claims of authorities	прибегая к авторитетным утвержде­ниям
resource	ресурс, способ, средство
response	ответ
responsible	ответственный
restitution	возмещение убытков
review	обозрение, пересмотр, рецензия
robbery	грабеж

 

S

safety	безопасность, сохранность
sale	продажа
salesperson	продавец
satisfaction	удовлетворение
savings	сбережения
scam	жульничество
schedule	расписание, график, перечень, распи­сывать, назначать
scheme	проект, схема, заговор, интрига
scope	масштаб
section	часть, параграф
secured	надежный
seeing is believing	лучше один раз увидеть, чем сто раз услышать
seek	поиск
seem	казаться
self-defense	самооборона
seller	продавец
send out	рассылать
sense	чувство, сознание
service	обслуживание, служба, служение
services	услуги
set of rules	набор правил
settle	разрешать, улаживать, принимать решение, регулировать, оплачивать
settlement	уплата, соглашение, поселение
shelter	защита
ship a broken product at your expense	доставить неисправный товар за свой счет
shipping	отгрузка
similarly	подобным образом
slightly	слегка
smart consumer	разборчивый потребитель
solely	только
specific approval	определенное одобрение
specific performance	специфическое исполнение
splurge	пускать пыль в глаза
state agency	государственное агентство
statement	заявление, отчет, счет
steal	воровать, красть
store	склад, магазин, хранить
strongly	настойчиво
subpoena	повестка, вызывать в суд
subscription	подписка
successfully	успешно
sue	предъявлять иск, преследовать, воз­будить судебное дело
suffer	пострадать
suffer the consequences	страдать от последствий
suit	иск
support	поддержка, опора, поддерживать, подтверждать
suppose	полагать
suspect	подозрение
symbol	символ
symptoms	признаки
system of unwritten rules	система неписаных правил

 

T

take measures	принять меры
take the appropriate measures	принять соответствующие меры
talk down	умалять достоинства, порочить
technique	техника
tend to remember	склонны запоминать
term	условие, термин
threaten	грозить, угрожать
tough time	жесткое время
trial	испытание
trouble	забота, хлопоты
truck	грузовик
truth-in-menus	правдивое меню

 

U

unable	не в состоянии
unconscionable	недобросовестный
underdeveloped country	развивающаяся страна
undertake	предпринимать, ручаться
uneducated	необразованный
unemployed	безработный
unenforceable	неосуществимый
uneven	неравный
unfair	нечестный
unlawful	незаконный
unreasonable	неразумный
unwritten law	неписаный закон
use	использовать
utility	полезность

 

V

valid	имеющий силу
value	ценность
variable	изменчивый, переменный
variety	разновидность, разнообразие
various	различный, разный
vary	изменять, менять, отличаться
victim	жертва
violence	жестокость
volume	объем, том, книга
voluntary	добровольный

 

W

warranty	гарантия
wealth	богатство
weapon	оружие
whatever	безотносительно
wide	широкий
wish	желать
within	в пределах
witness	свидетель
worthwhile	стоящий
written complaint	письменная жалоба