Nadi business under spotlight for providing sub-standard products and failing to deliver items

A Nadi based hardware business has come under the spotlight for providing sub-standard products and accepting payment but failing to deliver items as ordered.

The Consumer Council of Fiji has received 12 complaints against the company in the last 5 months.

CEO, Seema Shandil says one complainant paid $3,920 for timber which turned out to be untreated.

Shandil says the complainant lodged a complaint with the Council and during the investigations it was confirmed by the Ministry of Forestry that the timber was untreated.

She says the consumer returned the timber to the trader however no refunds have been provided to-date.

In another case, a complainant purchased $1,562 worth of hardware materials, some of which has not been supplied to date.

Shandil says several attempts by the Council to negotiate for redress by the trader were unsuccessful which forced the Council to escalate the matter for enforcement.

She says the only conclusion that can be derived is that this business is consciously choosing to trade unethically in order to make profit.

Shandil says the business has made no indication of providing redress to the complainants which is even more disconcerting.

She adds businesses have an obligation under the law to deliver their products and services to consumers and a failure to do so is not only illegal but unethical.

Shandil says if they do not have products in stock, the business must inform the consumers and not take payments under false pretence of supplying the goods.