Wedding service providers to introduce unified contracts

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has reached an agreement with the companies that provide wedding and celebration halls and equipment rental services to introduce an approved, unified service contracts, effective from July 1.The move is aimed at protecting the rights of both service providers and consumers upon the agreed services and avoid unnecessary disputes and misunderstandings upon the delivery of the requested services. It is also in line with the stipulations of Law No. 8 for 2008 on Consumer Protection. The MEC Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department agreed with the representatives and officials of such companies on three types of contracts in this regard: a wedding hall rental contract, a wedding hall equipment contract, and a tent rental and supplies contract, in addition to a service delivery report for each contract.The adoption of service delivery reports is intended to prove the delivery of a service as agreed upon at the time of the contract was signed. Consumers may also report their objection or comments when it comes to services they believe were not delivered as required. MEC also urges all beneficiaries of rental and equipment services for wedding hall and tents to adopt the contracts approved by competent authorities and include the phrase “contract approved by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce”. Besides, clients should ensure the compliance of service providers with the services and specifications agreed upon before signing the delivery report. Once agreed upon, the specifications become binding for both signatories of the contract, and each party should comply with them.In case of dealing with offices that do not adopt contracts approved by the MEC, the consumer is responsible for verifying the provisions of the contract and related documents before signing them, as well as taking the necessary precautions and refraining from signing until clarifications are given concerning ambiguous services and non-compliant legal provisions.MEC said providers of rental and equipment services for wedding halls and tents will have to comply with the new approved contracts within a period of three months from April 1 to July 1. Competent authorities at the ministry will monitor the compliance of offices specialised in the rental and equipment of wedding halls and tents with their obligations as per the approved contracts as well as the provisions and regulations of Law No. (8) on Consumer Protection and its executive regulations. The ministry will also take legal action against companies that fail to comply with these provisions.Earlier, the Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud department had held a series of meetings with these companies, where a discussion was held on issues relating to payment procedures, deposits, the postponement and cancellation of agreed upon events, or the reassignment of the ceremony to another person.The meetings fall under MEC’s belief in the importance of the ongoing communication with suppliers and service providers in general, including service providers specialising in the rental and equipment of wedding halls and tents, to regulate the relation with consumers. The ministry urged service providers to comply with article (11) of the aforementioned law, which compels them to disclose specifications, requirements and prices in a precise, clear and detailed way in contracts signed with customers. Service providers shall also abide by the specifications agreed upon when providing services to consumers on the agreed upon date.