Doha
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has intensified its inspection campaigns in the local market to ensure the compliance of local retailers and service suppliers with the consumer protection regulations in the country.
In December, MEC inspectors from the Department of Registration and Commercial Licensing filed 39 reports and notices regarding various administrative violations of local businesses. The campaign covered areas such as Al-Wakrah, Bin Mahmoud and Al-Aziziya.
The violations included: operating a commercial business without proper prior licensing, or invalid registration, use of the shop for the purpose of accommodation, display of goods, stands or seats outside the shop, non-compliance of the working hours of the shop regarding opening and closure, non-existence of placard on the shop, non-compliance with the license conditions and violation of the regulation of LPG cylinders distribution. Some illegal street vendors were also apprehended.
MEC inspectors also found out that a meat shop at Al Wakrah was selling subsidised Australian mutton as New Zealand mutton. The outlet was closed for one month and issued a violation for the fraud. The shop was also ordered to place an advertisement in two local dailies, explaining the relevant details about the violation.
The MEC, which is active in monitoring the local market and the compliance of traders with the country’s laws on the consumer protection, has urged consumers to report any violations or fraudulent acts through its toll-free line:8005000, e-mail: [email protected], MEC application on smart phones and tablets:MEC_QATAR, or thorough the various screens and electronic devices installed at the various shopping malls around the country.
Most consumer complaints recently received by the MEC were regarding the variation of prices of the same item at different outlets. For instance, small groceries sell items, especially food items, at a slightly higher prices than those at the hypermarkets. Besides, the after-sales services are also a major concern for the customers of electronic gadgets and electrical appliances, especially after the end of the warranty period, as it has been a common complaint that spare parts of many brands are not instantly available and could be obtained only at inflated prices.
MEC recommends that consumers should keep the purchase bill and ask about the after-sale services and warranty period to avoid problems in future when buying any machine or apparatus.
