Ticos Complain Of Cellular Phones, Vehicles
and Appliances
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Ticos Complain Of Cellular Phones, Vehicles
and Appliances
What ticks off Costa Ricans the most? Poor
cellular telephones, tourism, automobiles
and appliances, according to the Oficina de
Apoyo al Consumidor del Ministerio de
Economía, the government agency that takes
in consumer complaints.
Housing and credit can also be added to the
Tico list of complaints, based on the number
of "denuncias" filed with the consumer
office.
Of the total complaints, 16% were for faulty
cellular phones. The complaints centre on
refurbished cellular phones sold as "new" or
cellular phones not living up to the promise
of the retailer or manufacturer.
Another 11% filed complaints on the
purchases of tourism packages and
automobiles, 9% for the purchases of
appliances and 7% on the purchase of a home
and financing, according to Cynthia Zapata
of the consumer office.
Zapata said the major complaint is that
manufacturer or retailer not honouring the
guarantee on the purchase.
"It appears that vendors are efficient when
it comes to selling, but not so much with
after sales service", said Zapata.
According to the conusmer official what is
required a reform to the current laws, fines
and sanctions against retailers who ignore
the current regulations.
Erick Ulate, president of Consumidores de
Costa Rica, said that this week a proposed
bill will be presented that will toughen
consumer regulations and protect consumers
more.
One major change in the bill, Ley de la
promoción de la competencia de la defensa
efectiva del consumidor (7472), is article
42, which according to Ulate, will force
retailer to replace a defective item rather
than the current obligation to only repair
it.
The current consumer laws allows that any
consumer item purchased is guaranteed from
defects for the first 45 days of purchase,
bet it a cellular phone, a dishwasher or a
used automobile, for example.
The consumer has 45 days to file a complaint
with the retailer and then ask for the
intervention of the consumer office if the
complaint is not satisfied.
For example, a used car buyer can complain
to the dealer within 45 days if the vehicle
is not working properly, like a faulty
transmission. Under the current consumer
laws the dealer is under the obligation to
repair the vehicle. Under the new law, if
passed, the dealer would have to replace the
vehicle or issue a full refund.
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