Nearly Nu 1.5 M was refunded to consumers between July and December last year. The refunds were made after investigations into consumer complaints. Most of the complaints involved sellers refusing refunds for defective products and poor-quality services. This is according to the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority’s (CCAA) biannual report. The report was released yesterday.
According to the report, an additional amount of Nu 956,139.17 has yet to be refunded to seven consumers by an education consultancy and placement firm. The payment is expected by this month. The authority said the education consultancy and placement firm had taken fees and other charges from customers but failed to deliver the promised services.
The authority registered a total of 215 consumer complaints between July and December last year, of which 129 cases have been resolved.
The remaining 86 cases are currently under investigation, with 72 pending complaints linked to PandoraBiz.
According to the report, most complaints were linked to businesses refusing to refund consumers for defective goods and poor-quality services. Other complaints included goods that were paid for but never delivered.
Complaints peaked in October with 74 cases, while July, August and September recorded significantly fewer cases, with 17, 24 and 15 complaints, respectively.
On regulatory enforcement, the authority inspected nearly 60 per cent of the 3,000 businesses targeted for market inspection last year.
The inspections focused on compliance with requirements such as price display, issuance of receipts, product labelling, and accuracy of pre-packaged goods.
Of the 5,500 businesses and consumers slated for advocacy this fiscal year, 43 per cent have been covered so far. The advocacy has been conducted for consumers and businesses in Dagana, Tsirang, Thimphu, Monggar, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse and Samdrup Jongkhar.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sonam Pem
