CCPC retail inspections found ‘several’ breaches
The competition watchdog has carried out a series of unannounced inspections of retail businesses and service stations across the country.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said that the inspections, carried out earlier this month, were part of its continuing work to monitor compliance with consumer-protection laws.
The commission said that its officers identified “several breaches” of consumer–protection law – including inadequate or inaccurate price displays on items for sale – during their inspections of retailers.
The CCPC inspections also identified breaches of price-display rules – as set out in the Retail Prices (Diesel and Petrol) Display Order 1997 – across the retail motor-fuel sector.
22 Dublin inspections
The 55 inspections were carried out across five counties, in sectors that included clothing, beauty, furniture, groceries, and hospitality.
There were 22 inspections were carried out throughout Dublin, one in Leixlip, Co Kildare, and eight in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
In the north-west, 12 inspections were carried across Donegal – including in Letterkenny, Bundoran, and Donegal Town – with a further 12 inspections completed throughout Sligo.
Patterns
The watchdog says that it selected traders based on location and sector and, in some cases, after complaints to its consumer helpline.
CCPC member Patrick Kenny said that the organisation used helpline data to spot patterns of consumer harm and traders who might merit investigation.
“Consumers need to see prices up front in order to make informed choices. If our enforcement officers find breaches of consumer protection law, we will act,” he said.
The CCPC has been calling for bigger penalties for companies that breach consumer protection law, saying that changes to the law are needed to give it the power to impose large fines for serious offences.