DOHA: With the Qatari market expanding and foreign businesses increasing their presence here, there has been a surge in the number of cases of commercial fraud being heard by local courts.
Legal circles say illegal practices being resorted to by some retailers for profiteering, like replacing product labels and not complying with Qatari standards and specifications, are among the common violations being committed.
Then, there are cases of retail outlets announcing promotions without seeking the necessary permission from the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) of the Ministry of Business and Trade, the state-run consumer rights’ watchdog.
Some retailers don’t give purchase receipts to customers although it is legally binding on them to do so.
According to Al Sharq, in the last three months the CPD has conducted as many as 3,000 raids on retail outlets — a record of sorts in such a short period — to check their compliance with the consumer protection law.
There has been a similar surge in the number of consumer complaints received by the CPD during that period (January 2013 till date) — an incredible 900 in such a short span.
Market sources attribute the rise in the number of consumer complaints and the resulting large number of raids on outlets to the increasing presence of foreign businesses in the country.
Some of these businesses are looking for quick profits, and so are least bothered about consumer rights and Qatari laws aimed at protecting these rights.
The Peninsula
