by Ricky Jimenez
Thanks to the Department of Trade and Industry – Davao City Field Office (DTI-DCFO) through its city director Teolulo T. Pasawa and to Paciente “Boy” Cubillas of the same office’s Consumer Welfare and Trade Regulation Division. Now we can share with readers of this column some precious lessons out of sob stories of consumers who have fallen prey to “deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices”. Our readers can rest assured consumer complaints have been properly received, documented and acted upon with dispatch. We are not at liberty to tell the names of complainants nor the companies or business enterprises at the receiving end of the complaints.
The point in writing about consumer concerns is to raise public awareness on sales pitches that sound too good to be true. In this manner the column serves a purpose: to raise a “caveat emptor” (consumers beware). In another way of putting it: to be forewarned is fore-armed.
This piece from the DTI-DCFO is a gem. It even starts with a poser: What Power Saving Device? Here it goes:
A housewife in a remote barangay is offered an electrical power-saving device by an ambulant agent. The sweet-talking agent claims the device will “reduce her power bill by 25%!” Housewife pays P10,000 net of a 20% discount and is issued by the agent with an invoice stating among others the details of the payment, telephone number and address of the firm. The agent assists the housewife in installing the device between the convenience outlet and the refrigerator.
Then one month after the purchase, the housewife notices no change whatsoever in her bill. She calls the agent. The agent comes and withdraws the device claiming that the unit could be defective. He promises to have it repaired, but agent never calls again.
She calls the phone number in the invoice. No answer after several attempts. She locates the office of the agent in Davao and registers her complaint. The agent’s office personnel claims the particular agent is no longer connected with the firm.
The housewife files a complaint with the DTI. The firm agrees to reimburse the housewife of the purchase price of the power-saving device. The agent is no longer connected with the firm. But since it failed to inform the public of the same, the firm felt responsible for the act of its agent.
Later a check with the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC) on power saving device, shows no energy-saving device has been endorsed by said agency.
Lessons for consumers: 1) Don’t buy from any ambulant vendor if you don’t know him; 2) If you want to buy anything, don’t buy immediately. Tell the seller to come back later so you can verify addresses and telephone numbers. 3) Find out how the energy-saving device can save you 25%. 4) Ask for a demonstration.
For sellers, false claims about their products could make them liable under the Consumer Acts of the Philippines (RA7394), particularly on the provision on “deceptive and unconscionable sales acts and practices”
The power saving device scam has many “poor cousins” along San Pedro Street right in downtown Davao City. Examples: the barkers armed with wyte board and wyte pen, claiming to compute the next winning lotto combination; or the next “Last 2” (referring to the last two digits of the first prize winning ticket number combination for next Sunday’s Sweepstakes draw). How gullible can people get!
Not to be outdone are the KBP-accredited radio blocktimers (or are they?) who use the airlanes to peddle number combinations disguised as animals, fruits, tree species, or what ever secret codes they employ to justify the sale of code listings. They lamely claim that their game on the air is just for fun (pahalipay). What sayeth thou, chair of the KBP Standards Authority?
In this time of difficulties, expect all sorts of money-making schemes. There are many takers because of the need to look for a way out of poverty. But for those in the know, this bit of expression may come in handy: pare ko, kumita na yang pambobola mo. Pwede ba, iba naman? (Hey chap, I was not born yesterday. Can you think of something else?)
(My email address is rjrjrajimenez@gmail.com)
