Price guidelines

STRI as at June 06 , 2022 = 7807.35 LOCAL SHARE PRICES

THE Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) is working on a submission to the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) calling for the introduction of price authorizations outlining the guidelines and parameters to determine bus freight costs.

According to a statement from the council this submission had been triggered by the practice where freight charges were determined in an ad hoc manner by the bus drivers and checkers.

Chief executive officer Seema Shandil said there was an urgent need to bring in guidelines which provided clear demarcation of freight cost for transporting different products based on pre-defined parameters.

“What we have discovered is that the drivers and checkers either look at the product or lift it to determine its weight which is then used to decide the cost for transporting the product,” she said.

“This practice places commuters at a disadvantage as there is no consistency in price determination and consumers have no choice but to pay whatever is being demanded.”

The submission would also encompass the inconsistent manner in which prices were being charged by bus drivers and checkers for the same products and the very real possibility of consumers being robbed in broad daylight by this practice.

The council was calling on all consumers to make their voice heard by sharing their views on the issue with the council.

“Whilst the council always ensures that consumer voice is prominently represented in all submissions, we also want consumers to let us know about the issues which they are facing in relation to bus freight cost and what they think is the best solution.

“We need to have a concerted effort and work in solidarity to ensure such practices are forced out of the market through regulations and policies,” said Ms Shandil.

Consumers wishing to share their views were encouraged to make a submission through the ‘requests for submissions’ portal on the Consumer Council of Fiji website.