| ‘Beware of bogus firms’ - MoCI cautions consumers |
| | Sat, 19 May 2012 |
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KUWAIT CITY (KUNA): The Ministry of Commerce and Industry cautioned consumers against products and promotions by bogus companies, which sometimes opt for phone sales campaigns that give the false impression of a certified and reliable business dealing in safe and quality products.
Interviewed by KUNA, Director of the ministry’s Department against Commercial Fraud Rashid Al-Hajri stressed the method of choice for such companies is calling consumers and promoting products that are often hazardous to health and safety, in addition to being of poor quality. Once purchased, the consumer has no means to guarantee a return or exchange for the goods he finds unsatisfactory, since these salespeople do not set up offices or receive complaints.
The majority of products sold through such method, and the most hazardous of all, are cosmetics, dietary supplements, vitamins, and alleged panaceas. Other than substances that should only be administered under proper and close physician monitoring, the products may even contain harmful substance or even poisonous matter, he said.
Stressing that engaging in such business is a sign of loose morals, those who operate in this manner are accountable to legal action as they violate the country’s laws. It is imperative for consumers to cooperate with the authorities to stem such trifling with people’s wellbeing, and should a product be needed and only sold in this manner, the buyer must first verify presence of a license and obtain information about actual physical premises and quality of the product promoted.
The official further called on consumers who purchased such goods and found them unsatisfactory for any reason mentioned above to come forward and file a complaint at the closest commercial supervision office to help hold the bogus-entity accountable for its fraud.
On the functions of the department, Al-Hajri said its duties are two-fold. The department seeks to curb commercial fraud and protect consumers’ rights, while at the same time working on increasing consumer awareness and responsibility. The ministry realizes fully the importance of efforts in this regard, thus the recent change from a mere consumer protection department to assigning this task to an independent sector in the ministry.
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