LASCOPA ADVISES RESIDENTS ON END-OF-YEAR CLEARANCE SALES
… Says ‘No Refund Policy’ is Unlawful
Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has appealed to residents of the State to exercise caution as they embark on the end-of-the-year purchases of goods and services, especially consumable items, emphasising the need to pay cursory attention to product information, particularly expiry dates.
Speaking recently on the activities of the Agency at his Ikeja Office, the General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo Esq, said the advice became imperative to curtail the selling of unwholesome consumable items by some wholesalers or retailers during the ember months.
He added that the agency, through its Monitoring and Enforcement Unit, had over the years observed that some producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers usually hide under the guise of clearance sales to push substandard products to consumers, assuring that the era of such despicable acts is over in Lagos State.
In his words: “My appeal to the consuming public is to avoid buying goods in a hurry or purchasing items that are sold below the appropriate market value. Consumers should be aware that this is the period that sellers will be pushing out expired or about to expire goods to sell to unsuspecting members of the public”.
“As a result of this, consumers should be more vigilant as they make their buying decisions by examining the product information before making payment. On our part, we will continue to enlighten the public to avoid hazardous products and we will be on the lookout to sanction anyone found culpable”, the General Manager stated.
Reiterating the position of the law on the ‘No Refund Policy’ which had become a norm among some store owners and service providers, Solebo described the practice as unlawful and a breach of consumers’ rights that must not be allowed to thrive.
While making reference to the ruling of an Enugu State High Court earlier this year in favour of a consumer as well as some convictions made by LASCOPA in favour of complainants, Solebo promised that the Agency will continue to intervene on all issues partaining to consumers’ infractions in accordance with the relevant section of the Consumer Protection Act.
He noted that the major achievement of the Agency since its establishment is evident in the various testimonials received from Lagosians expressing satisfaction with how the Agency had prevailed on sellers of unwholesome products and ensured that consumers always get value for money.
“We have succeeded in putting smiles on people’s faces and established the fact that the consumer is king and deserves to be fairly treated in every transaction. Apart from this, the level of awareness of consumer rights is now higher than what it used to be”, he added.
Solebo also noted the agency had been able to recover several millions of naira for complaints on issues relating to credit adjustment for prepaid meter users, internet banking services and replacement of defective electronic products among others.
He stated that LASCOPA now has a presence in Badagry, Ikoyi Obalende, Bariga, Ikorodu and Ojo LGAs and LCDAs, revealing that plans are on to extend the services of the Agency to other areas across the State. He, however, pleaded for the cooperation of the Council Chairmen of various Local Council Areas.
TO/TMS/KO
