The Consumer Council of Fiji has taken a stand against unfair pricing practices after the Value Added Tax (VAT) increased from 9 per cent to 15 per cent on 1 August 2023.
Council chief executive Seema Shandil in a statement said they received reports of profiteering by certain traders which raised concerns about the equitable pricing of common goods such as newspapers and recharge top-ups for mobile phones.
She said they received complaints from concerned consumers regarding a few traders who are unscrupulously charging prices exceeding the clearly marked VAT Inclusive Price (VIP) labels on newspapers and recharge top-up and the concerning complaints undermines the very foundations of fair business practices and consumer protection laws.
“All traders have a responsibility to adhere to the principles of ethical business conduct, ensuring transparent transactions and fair pricing.”
In one of the complaints, a consumer informed the Council that a trader was retailing a local newspaper at $1.58 cents whilst the VIP price written on it was $1.50 cents.
In a separate case, a trader charged a consumer $26.67 cents for a recharge worth $25.00.
Shandil has also expressed her strong support for stringent measures to combat price exploitation.
“We urge the traders to immediately rectify these pricing inconsistencies.”
She emphasised the significance of proactive enforcement against traders engaging in such practices, ensuring that consumers’ interests and financial well-being are safeguarded.
Shandil is encouraging the consumers to report instances of unjustified price increases, price gouging, or any form of unfair pricing.
