The National Consumer Agency (NCA) has published its latest consumer protection list, which details 57 enforcement actions taken against businesses, between January and July 2010, for failing to comply with consumer legislation.
Breaches were identified in numerous sectors including grocery, hardware, licensed premises and motor. Of the total of 57 breaches, the majority (54) relate to misleading pricing or failing to display prices. These breaches occurred across a wide variety of businesses, from national retailers to local independent traders.
The Agency secured a Prohibition Order in the Limerick Circuit Court prohibiting a trader in Limerick from selling, or offering for sale, clocked cars . The Agency also secured undertakings from a Dublin-based car dealer, in respect of discrepancies in the odometer reading of a car, and from a jewellery company, in respect of infringements of hallmarking requirements relating to a jewellery item. If the Agency has reason to believe that a trader is involved in a prohibited act or practice, the Agency may seek and obtain a formal written undertaking that the trader will comply with the requirements of the Act.
Ann Fitzgerald, CEO of the NCA said: “This is the second Consumer Protection List published this year. The list is a consumer protection measure, which will inform and alert consumers as to the prohibited practices that the Agency has encountered during the reporting period. It should also serve as a reminder to businesses of the importance of adhering to consumer protection legislation and that failure to do so carries the risk of enforcement action by the Agency. Consumers are entitled to be treated fairly and in good faith by businesses and must be provided with accurate information regarding products and services. If businesses fail to live up to their obligations then the NCA will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action.”
