{
  "id": 1610578,
  "title": "What options do I have if I think I haven't had a fair deal?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/what-options-do-i-have-if-i-think-i-havent-had-a-fair-deal",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T01:41:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/personal-finance/1049525/what-options-do-i-have-if-i-think-i-haven-t-had-a-fair-deal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "If you believe you haven't received a fair deal, you can take your dispute to the Disputes Tribunal. This tribunal is one of 37 across New Zealand, used to settle a variety of issues without going to court. The maximum claim value is $60,000, with larger claims typically heard in higher courts. The Disputes Tribunal can't hear disputes over tenancies, employment, land sales, family matters, wills, or certain other matters.\n\nElle Chrisp and David Dingwall recently took discount retailer Kmart to the tribunal over contaminated play sand, which tested positive for asbestos. The tribunal found the sand unsafe and ordered Kmart to pay $15,185.42 to cover asbestos testing and remediation costs. Anyone can take a claim to the Disputes Tribunal to settle a disagreement over money.\n\nTo make a claim, you can apply online or fill out a form and deliver it to your local district court. There's a filing fee based on the claim amount. The application requires contact details, insurance information, and details of the dispute, including what you want done and the amount claimed. You must show you've tried to resolve the dispute before going to the tribunal and provide evidence to support your claim.\n\nAfter filing, the tribunal checks the claim's eligibility and sends all parties a notice with the hearing date, time, and location. Both parties can present their case, and a referee will help find a mutually agreeable solution. If no agreement is reached, the referee will make a legally binding decision. Unfollowed orders can be enforced in the District Court, or a lawyer can be engaged for further action. A rehearing or appeal can be requested within 20 working days of the decision, with a $275 fee for an appeal.",
  "summary": "What happens when you have a consumer issue or a dispute over money you can't resolve? You can take it to the Disputes Tribunal.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}