Making a Disputes Tribunal claim as a buyer

The Disputes Tribunal can assist you to resolve a dispute between you and another Trade Me member over a trade. If you’ve bought an item the dispute may be one of the following:

• The seller pulled out of the trade.
• The goods or services were not as described.
• The goods or services were paid for but not supplied.

There are other situations where it may be appropriate to seek assistance from the Disputes Tribunal. Please note that the Disputes Tribunal does not address debt.

The process

The process is straightforward:

• A trained referee hears your dispute.
• A solution to the dispute is decided upon.
• A binding enforceable court order is issued.

Participating in a hearing is also straightforward; if you are both in the same location you can all meet with the referee. Teleconference can also be arranged.

Starting the claim process

To start the Disputes Tribunal claim process, you'll need the other party's full name and address. Trade Me can, at its absolute discretion, release this information directly to you or the Disputes Tribunal for this purpose.

Trade Me takes the privacy of members seriously. To request details for the purpose of making a Disputes Tribunal claim we require that you:

• Download a statutory declaration form to state that you require the other party's details in order to file a claim with the Disputes Tribunal, and will only use the information for this purpose.
• Complete the statutory declaration with your details and the details of the member that you are requesting the details of.
• Take the statutory declaration to your local court and:
  • sign the statutory declaration in front of a Registrar or Deputy Registrar (a Justice of the Peace is acceptable if visiting court isn't suitable due to COVID conditions).
  • have the statutory declaration signed and stamped by the Registrar or Deputy Registrar (a Justice of the Peace is acceptable if visiting court isn't suitable due to COVID conditions).
• Scan the signed statutory declaration form and email it to us by following this link, OR send the signed statutory declaration form to Trade Me:
  
  Trust and Safety
  Trade Me
  PO Box 11042
  Wellington
  
  

Timing

It takes about 3-5 days for the statutory declaration to be processed. If your request is granted, we'll email you with the other party's full name and address attached in PDF format. We'll also notify the other party if we've released their details.

More info

Find out more on our Trust & Safety blog, or visit the Disputes Tribunal website. Trade Me takes Disputes Tribunal orders seriously and can help with enforcement of judgments.

You can find your local Disputes Tribunal online or in the Government section of the White Pages under 'Justice, Ministry of'.

link

If you want to make a Disputes Tribunal claim as a buyer – we can help.

---