Consumer rights

THE theme for World Consumer Rights Day places emphasis on Fair and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) for consumers.

In this modern technological era, people get lured by these advancements to fit in the current trend.

Along with tech achievers comes tech scammers and hackers.

While online shopping and payment may seem safer and easier with the rise in scams, there’s no 100 per cent guarantee.

Whichever mode of purchase and payment one opts for as a consumer, one has to be vigilant.

Frauds aren’t committed only online but in actual shopping centres as well — products and prices on shelf don’t match.

Tags advertised as specials are placed with higher costing misleading customers with — quantity, variety and flavour.

Technical or manual AI via both forms consumers are duped. There’s no fairness in either!

Recently, I picked a pack of washing powder priced at $19.95 and got charged $24.50.

Upon recheck I was told only a particular essence was on special.

Upon my refusal, tags which were turned with prices hidden, none of them stated $24.50. At another food outlet my purchase totalled $11.80 and I got charged $12 (20cents) extra. For some 20cents would sound like a little amount but upon purchase if customers run 20-30 cents short, would these very outlets give their products short of change? Definitely not! Why take what you won’t give. What is bothersome is why don’t their tags, calculators and registers tally.

The Consumer Council of Fiji needs to take a step forward to protect consumers.

PRAMEETA CHAND

Suva