Only 14 convictions for consumer affairs

IRELAND’S consumer affairs watchdog secured 14 convictions for breaches of consumer law even though it fielded 39,000 calls from consumers and carried out 5,000 investigations during the year.

Director of Consumer Affairs Carmel Foley said her policy aimed to achieve compliance with consumer protection laws through early contact with businesses in cases where issues were identified.

Ms Foley said the number of convictions reflected success in achieving voluntary compliance, without the need to go to court, and the allocation of her office’s resources.

Twenty of the office’s staff work as inspectors who investigate alleged breaches of consumer law.

“Hundreds of retailers were brought voluntarily into compliance with what are often complex requirements, and where compliance was not obtained, defaulters were prosecuted,” said Ms Foley.

The 14 convictions resulted in fines totalling less than €7,000. Offenders also incurred legal costs of €6,000.

The biggest single fine was €900 for a breach of the Consumer Credit Act.

Seven of the cases dealt with pubs that failed to display drink prices in accordance with the law.

Ms Foley called on the government to introduce tougher penalties for consumer law infringements.

“Price display fines currently at €127 should be updated to €3,000, in line with newer product pricing fines, so as to be a real deterrent,” she said.

The number of calls handled by the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (ODCA) increased by 18% on 2002.

Many of these related to consumer inquiries and involved no alleged breaches of consumer law.

Ms Foley said the higher volume of calls reflected increased awareness of consumer rights.

Approximately half of the 5,000 investigations carried out were instigated by the ODCA itself, with the other half generated by approaches from the public.

Ms Foley also said a price awareness campaign in the run-up to Christmas had been successful.

The ODCA’s annual report, which was published yesterday, showed the office spent over €4.5 million last year. Wages, salaries and allowances accounted for €2.6m of the budget.