THE COMPETITION and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has investigated a number of premises in Limerick City to insure compliance with consumer protection laws.
The CCPC inspected five outlets in Limerick to ensure that they were following consumer protection laws.
The five Limerick premises that were inspected form part of a total of 43 premises across Munster visited by enforcement officers.
While no specific details of any of the Limerick establishments were made available by the CCPC, the businesses inspected were across the hospitality, beauty, motor, and retail sectors.
Elsewhere in Munster, 15 inspections were carried out in Cork City, 14 were carried out in the Kerry towns of Killarney and Tralee, while a further nine businesses were inspected in Waterford.
During the course of the inspections, a number of potential breaches of consumer law were identified, particularly around pricing and faulty goods.
“Of particular concern was a lack of understanding among businesses regarding their legal obligations to consumers when things go wrong with a product or service,” a statement from the CCPC said.
The businesses came to the attention of the commission following complaints from members of the public on the commission’s dedicated complaints hotline.
CCPC commission member Pat Kenny said that the inspections are to ensure that businesses nationwide are continuing to follow consumer protection laws.
“The CCPC regularly carries out unannounced inspections to make sure businesses are abiding by consumer protection laws. Our enforcement officers use our national helpline data to identify serious breaches and patterns of non-compliance,” Mr Kenny said.
Mr Kenny continued, saying that “an informed consumer is an empowered consumer, and knowing your rights can make life easier when things go wrong. Traders who break the law can face fines and prosecution and our interventions are focused on the areas where we can make the greatest impact across a range of sectors”.
People who suspect a business has breached consumer protection laws can lodge a complaint by calling 01 402 5555 or emailing [email protected].
