Let’s begin this week looking at what is Consumer Protection Law?

The law that exists to give protection to consumers against many forms of fraud and unfair business practices.

These laws are designed to ensure that the rights of the consumers are protected protection and existence of fair trade, competition and accurate information in the marketplace.

Benefits of Consumer Protection

Law

Consumer Protection Law ensures that businesses are watched closely to ensure that they are running their practices legally and that they are being fair in regards to the consumer market.

Consumer protection laws are used to help decrease the prevalence of monopolies and ensure that the consumer is still the main concern with companies.

Consumer protection and consumer advocacy bring the intentions of the company and products together with the necessity of the customers and the market that they are in.

Consumer protection requires that companies provide detailed information about their products.

By understanding what is in products, how they were created, and what was used in them, companies can ensure that their products are safe.

This assists the consumers to make an informed decision. This is one of the six main rights that consumers have.

Overall, consumer protection laws are created in order to ensure that all consumers have a fair shot at the products they desire or require without the threat of being overpowered or unfairly charged by businesses.

Ensure that social and commercial trust is maintained between businesses and consumers.

Role of Fiji Commerce Commission

in Consumer Protection?

Create awareness and educate consumers and traders on fair trade and consumer protection issues;

Collect, examine and disseminate information on  matters affecting or likely to affect the interests of consumers;

Receive and consider consumer  complaints;

Investigate fraudulent or deceptive practices affecting consumers;

Take action on behalf of the consumers including legal proceedings;

Advise and assist persons (including traders) who seek assistance from the Commission ;

Fix and declare maximum prices to ensure accessibility and affordability;

Mediate on matters affecting consumer interests with the possible outcomes as replacement, repair or refund.

If mediation fails, institute legal proceedings; and

Investigate matters regarding illegal rent increase for residential properties, failure to issue agreements and receipts by landlords.

What Consumer Redress are

available under CCD2010

Faster and cheap resolutions via mediation. This includes specific performance, refunds, repairs and replacements.

Spot Fines for offences detected based on consumer complaints, feedback  and whistleblowing;

Compensation via legal proceedings; and

Conviction and penalties imposed on offending traders.

nBobby Maharaj is the chief executive of the Fiji Commerce Commission. This is a regular column from the Commission in the Fiji Sun.