The Consumer Affairs Commission is preparing to prosecute a business for the first time under the Consumer Affairs Act after it repeatedly failed to correct breaches despite being given several opportunities to comply.
Competition and Consumer Affairs Officer Rusante Perry told Ignite News the Commission is currently reviewing a file on the business, with prosecution to follow if the non-compliance continues.
“If it is that business still does not comply, what we are looking at now is prosecution, so currently we have a file being reviewed to have the business prosecuted and thereafter we will be looking at prosecuting other businesses as well,” she said.
The potential court action comes as the Commission continues a nationwide inspection drive aimed at improving compliance with consumer protection laws.
Perry said inspectors conducted 915 business inspections during the first half of the year, including 323 first-time inspections, with 208 businesses found to be non-compliant.
“For inspection, once a business fails the first inspection, then they are given a non-confirmatory form, which indicates that we will be visiting in one month’s time, so pretty much they have one month to correct those areas outlined on the form,” she said.
The Commission has since conducted 592 re-inspections, Perry said, with 331 businesses found in compliance and 261 remaining non-compliant.
Among the most common breaches are businesses failing to issue receipts, honour warranties and clearly display prices and service fees. Perry noted that while fewer businesses are displaying unlawful “No Refund” signs, the practice has not been completely eliminated.
She said compliance with the Consumer Affairs Act not only protects consumers but also promotes fairness and confidence in the marketplace.
“Every time a business fails to comply with the act, then a consumer is disenfranchised in somewhere or the other,” Perry said, adding that a business’s failure to provide a receipt leaves a consumer without proof of purchase, with nothing to show should they seek recourse or redress.
She said that when businesses comply, consumers can shop with confidence.
Consumers wishing to report breaches can contact the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission on 219-4410.
