THREE businesses have been hit with warnings by the consumer watchdog.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) published details on Monday of 31 enforcement actions against traders nationwide.
Three of these are in Letterkenny.
A CCPC spokesperson said: “Convenience stores and homeware shops feature on the list along with a Donegal pub, a Wicklow deli, and an online car parts retailer.
“Some 31 fixed payment notices and compliance notices were issued to 18 traders across the country for a range of consumer rights breaches, including failure to comply with price display laws and giving consumers misleading information about their rights.
“The measures are the result of inspections and investigations carried out by CCPC officers in store and online.”
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) officers were in Donegal.
DISPLAY PRICES
A warning for failure to display prices was among the warnings issued in Donegal.
Traders must display the full price on or near the products they sell so consumers can make informed choices, explained the CCPC.
It added that licensed premises must display a comprehensive price list inside each drinking area and a set 16-item list at the entrance.
However, Wescooley Ltd, trading as Oasis Bar in Letterkenny, was issued two compliance notices.
COMPLIANCE NOTICES
A compliance notice is a written legal notice that the CCPC can issue to a trader who has committed or is currently committing a prohibited act or practice.
The notice directs the trader to stop a certain practice and obey the law by a certain date. Failure to do so is an offence and can lead to prosecution.
Failure to display unit pricing was also included in the warnings issued in Donegal.
The CCPC explained that goods must have a unit price displayed so consumers can compare the cost of similar products sold in different sizes, making it easier to find the best value.
PAYMENT NOTICES
Rafterstreet Stores Ltd trading as Homesavers in Letterkenny was issued three fixed payment notices.
A fixed payment notice is a set fine of €300 that the CCPC can issue to traders for failing to correctly display prices or failing to provide certain important information to a consumer.
Misleading information given to consumers on their rights was also among the warnings issued for businesses in Donegal.
Traders must not mislead consumers about their rights under the law, from the 14-day cooling-off period for online purchases to the right to redress for faulty goods, according to the CCPC.
Pure Fashions Ltd trading as pureonline.ie with an address in Letterkenny was issued three compliance notices.
The CCPC is the main statutory body in Ireland responsible for enforcing and promoting compliance with competition, consumer protection and product safety law
CCPC chairperson Brian McHugh said; “Consumer protection law supports consumers to make informed choices when shopping.
“Whether online or in store, traders must not mislead consumers about their rights. Consumers must be able to compare prices, get redress for faulty goods, and use the 14-day cooling-off period for online purchases across the EU.
“CCPC enforcement teams carry out inspections throughout the year.
“Consumer reports help us to identify areas of concern and potential bad practice by traders, so we strongly encourage people to report potential consumer law breaches to us at CCPC.ie or 01 402 5555.”
Full details of all CCPC consumer protection prosecutions, undertakings, compliance notices and fixed payment notices are available on the ccpc.ie/CPL website.