Seef District: The Directorate Consumer Protection has compiled 496 complains last year (2014) up by 65 per cent compared with 2013. The department, which is affiliated with the Ministry and Commerce Ministry, said that 89% of the filed complaints had been settled, while 54% are either being settled cordially or referred to the courts.
A major bulk of 194 complaints (39%) concerned electronic and electrical appliances, followed by cars (104 cases), furniture (43), construction sector (36), food products (25), garment (20), tourism (10), and toys (1 case).
The Consumer Protection Directorate has also surveyed 63 other miscellaneous non-categorized complaints which concern different other issues.
The department is planning to launch awareness-enhancing campaigns in the current year (2015) which focus on electronic goods and electrical appliances in a bid to find out the reasons underpinning the tangible increase of complaints related to this sector, including after-sale grievances.
The directorate also conducted a series of field inspects to ensure compliance with the prices and licensed promotions to avowing any tampering with the pricing rules and regulations in line with edict (72) for 2008 establishing the committee in charge of combating market violations.
In a statement compiling the 2014 achievements and activities, the Directorate of Consumer Prosecution said that its inspectors its inspectors surveyed seven complaints in the markets and referred them to the Public Prosecution for investigation for tampering with prices of subsidized goods.
The directorate issued 2213 licences to conduct discounted sales in 20014, in addition to 834 other miscellaneous permits to conduct promotional campaigns, including raffle draws, adding that it ensured prizes had been effectively handed over to winners.
The panel announced that two new ministerial edicts are under review at the Commission of Legislation and Legal Opinion to regulate trade discount sales and business promotional campaigns.
The Directorate of Consumer Protection is also planning to set up a special communication centre and launch a hotline which would operate round the clock within a few weeks.