Violation of consumer rights detected at petrol stations during inspection

The Authority for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection (AFCCP) published details on Wednesday of its latest inspection of petrol stations and the implementation of the night-time electricity discount.

Head of the authority’s Consumer Protection Department Ts.Lkhagvasuren stated, “AFCCP conducted an inspection following complaints about M-Oil Company’s petrol stations not pumping as much fuel into car tanks as consumers paid for. The inspection involved 10 petrol stations belonging to eight gas retailers. The results of the inspection indicated that these petrol stations pumped a moderate level of fuel.”

However, inspectors found that one of the fuel dispensers was not properly sealed. With confirmation from the Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology, inspectors said that they had taken the necessary measures to put a stop to the offense.

AFCCP also reviewed the operation of 73 petrol stations owned by seven fuel importers since December 2017. Inspectors found several violations, including petrol stations refusing to sell fuel without a proper explanation and causing artificial scarcity of fuel. As a result, the seven companies were given fines ranging from five million MNT to 20 million MNT.

To date, Magnai trade and Petro Star companies have paid off their five million MNT fines. On the other hand, the companies Sodmongol, Shunkhlai, Tes Petroleum, JM Oil, Tespetroleum and Oin Birj refused to pay the fine and filed a lawsuit against it, according to AFCCP.

RESIDENTS DEMANDED TO PAY FOR USING ELECTRICITY AT NIGHT

On April 10, two people living in Bayanzurkh and Chingeltei districts called the AFCCP’s customer service line to complain that they received a bill for their night-time electricity consumption although the night-time tariff for electricity has been annulled.

When the authority investigated this case, the residents’ electricity discount duration had been shortened by a month, applying discount to their electricity bill from October 2017 to March 2018. The discount should have been effective until April 15, 2018 in accordance with the government decree.

Regarding this matter, the Energy Regulatory Commission told AFCCP that it sent an official letter to Ulaanbaatar Electricity Distribution Network Company, asking it to ensure that ger area residents receive the night-time electricity tariff discount until April 15 as specified in the government decree.