DED launches campaign to protect consumer rights

The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division at the Department of Economic Development (DED) has announced the launch of an inspection campaign across all outlets in Dubai during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The initiative is part of DED’s mandate to co-ordinate and co-operate with retail outlets for the protection of consumer rights and to maintain transparency. The campaign entails checking prices of goods, accuracy of promotional offers and matching prices of goods supported by the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection. The consumer protection division’s plan includes inspection campaigns in the market to monitor the commitment of retailers and prevent any violation to the resolution of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection on credit card fees on purchases. The resolution instructs retailers to desist from charging additional fees on credit card purchases. The violation of the resolution will entail an initial warning and a fine of Dhs10,000 along with the refund of amounts that have been withdrawn from the consumer. “Our campaign focuses on field trips across all retail outlets to inspect prices of goods and other relevant matters that will assure consumers that we are monitoring the market closely during the Holy Month of Ramadan. We are keen to co-ordinate with retail outlets in the emirate to provide consumer products and foods at affordable prices, especially during Ramadan,” said Omar Bushahab, CEO, Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division, DED. The campaign will scrutinise all retail outlets in the emirate to ensure that they are dedicated to displaying DED’s contact details in their premises, which enable customers to promptly report concerns about consumer rights. The details must be clearly visible behind the cash counters in both Arabic and English. The outlets that fail to adhere to this will be fined. Mohammed Lootah, deputy CEO, Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Division at DED, said: “This initiative confirms the department’s commitment to provide best services to consumers. The enforcement of the consumer rights is nothing do with making life difficult for retailers or to favour consumers, but rather to promote a healthy trading environment, which is transparent and regulated.” “Through this initiative, we seek to ensure the availability of goods and products in the market and shopping centres at prices commensurate with the income of different categories of the people.” “The division also co-operates with the retail outlets to maintain the stability of prices, especially in Ramadan, and transparency in the provision of promotional offers during the Holy Month,” Lootah added. The representatives from the division will visit a number of retail outlets during Ramadan to strengthen communication with consumers and to receive their complaints and suggestions. The website of the division at DED, www.consumerrights.ae, acts as a reference guide on consumer protection. From/ Gulf Today