Businesses rapped for pricing law breaches

The National Consumer Agency secured one conviction and 45 enforcement actions against businesses who overcharged customers and failed to display prices in the first six months of the year.

The actions, taken between January and June, included 10 compliance notices issued to retailers nationwide for charging more for consumer goods than the price displayed.

A total of 29 on-the-spot fines were issued to traders for failing to display product prices. These enforcement actions arose from visits to traders by NCA officers.

Some of the retailers issued the notices included Tesco Ireland Limited, Dunnes Stores, Marks and Spencer, and Musgraves.

The agency secured the conviction and €500 fine of VK Motors Ltd (formerly trading at 258 Harold’s Cross Rd, Harold’s Cross, Dublin) for engaging in a misleading commercial practice by providing false information in relation to a vehicle’s mileage.

Five compliance notices were issued in relation to the Christmas Direct website for a range of breaches of Distance Selling Regulations, including the failure to provide information to consumers in relation to their rights to cancellation and refund.

The Waterford-based gift website hit the headlines in December, when it was the subject of 25 complaints to the NCA from furious customers who said their promised items had not been delivered. Disgruntled parents took to internet forums, expressing fears their goods and presents for children would not be delivered by Christmas.

Commenting on these latest enforcement actions, chief executive of the NCA Karen O’Leary said the figures showed that agency highlighted that the body was prepared take action and prosecute any traders and businesses that fail to comply with legislation.

“The agency has a range of enforcement tools available to it under legislation and our interventions are focused on the areas where we can make the greatest impact,” said Ms O’Leary. “In the last six months, we have tackled breaches of consumer law in a number of retail sectors and we remain committed to ensuring that consumers are protected and businesses held to account.”

Ms O’Leary pointed out that online traders were not exempt from consumer legislation and would be pursued if they broke the law.

“When it comes to online business-to-consumer transactions, there are specific requirements that must be met by all traders both before and after any purchase by a consumer,” she said. “Traders need to be aware of their obligations and run the risk of being subject to enforcement action if they are not compliant.”