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Consumer protection is all about awareness

Sales and purchase processes will become transparent only through education, says Dubai Economic Development Department.

The Dubai Economic Development Department (DED), through its Consumer Protection Section, works on boosting the concepts of consumer protection and promotes the rights of the consumers among the different segments of the society. This is done through the various available channels and media.

Our extensive awareness campaigns are designed to cast light on the rights and duties of the consumers. Information about these campaigns are available in special stands tactically set up in public places like shopping malls and traditional markets which see large number of visitors. In addition, a number of activities and events are held in Dubai to increase awareness among consumers.

Complaints& Responses

Workshop agrees to replace spare parts:A man lodged a complaint against an automobile repairing workshop. He said he took his car to the workshop to get a certain malfunction fixed. On the day he received his car, he found out some new problems in the engine which did not exist before he handed over the car to the repairing workshop. The Consumer Complaint Section contacted the garage’s owner and the workshop agreed that it would order new spare parts from abroad to mend the engine. The complainant was intimated about this and the day he could collect his car.

Refund ordered for faulty device:A consumer filed a complaint against a pharmacy alleging that he had bought a medical device from the pharmacy but it did not function. He said he wanted to give the machine back to the pharmacy and get a refund, but the pharmacy refused to return the money he paid though the receipt of his payment states that ‘a refund is possible’. The Consumer Complaint Section communicated with owner of the pharmacy, and it has been agreed that the pharmacy would return Dh3,299 the consumer had paid when he returns the device.

(Compiled by Salah Al Deberky)

The main role played by the Consumer Protection Section — specifically the Consumer Awareness Division — is to enlighten people and make them aware about their rights as consumers. They are made aware of how to react if they encounter any consumer-related problem. Common problems encountered are related to the mechanism of purchase, conditions of warranty, money recovery, exchange of goods and other related issues.

Last but not the least, our objective is to implement the best standards of transparency and impartiality in the sales and purchase processes.

I would like to say that our objective here is not to identify our role in what might be viewed as “flexing muscles”, but my message to you is to contribute to the awareness campaign. Your contribution can be important in making your friends, relatives and co-workers aware about their rights as consumers which they might not otherwise know.

This way, awareness will spread in the maximum possible way in the society and resolve many consumer-related problems.

People can reach out to us through various channels: Ahlan Dubai on 600545555, e-mail, Twitter, website, smart app ‘Sallety’, complaints hotline and outskirts centres of the division.

(As told by Abdul Aziz bin Hathboor, Director of Consumer Protection Section)

36 cafes fined for promoting smoking

The Field Control Section of the DED fined 36 cafes in Dubai during the first half of this year for putting up posters in front of their cafes with promotional offers encouraging customers to smoke. Promoting smoking, in any form, is a violation of the rules set up by the department.

Ahmed Al Awadhi, senior manager at the section, said they launched inspection campaigns to ensure that cafes and trade establishments are committed to the conditions governing advertising, as under the rules, the trader must not put any advertisement or a promotional offer on smoking. “Owners of trade establishments should adhere to the instructions regarding the practice of the economic activities, as well as the advertisement conditions which ban promoting smoking in any form,” he said.

Al Awadhi urged consumers to inform the section about the establishments that promote smoking by offers such as “buy a shisha and get one free”, or even by putting a picture of shisha on the advertisement that bears the trader’s name.

salah@khaleejtimes.com

Khaleej Timesruns the ‘Consumer Forum’ series in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development in Dubai. Readers can email their complaints and suggestions to news@khaleejtimes.comwith the subject line ‘Consumer Forum’ or raise them directly with the DED on phone number600 545 555