Consumer protection rights are followed in every country. People are buying products, yet they are disappointed when purchased. Complaints regarding the product’s size and quality are often seen by professional lawyers in Dubai. Whether you are a resident, tourist, or a business owner, you have all the rights to make a complaint against the product if you are not satisfied.
Purpose of Consumer Protection Laws
The consumer protection laws are implemented in the UAE to protect consumers from unethical and deceptive practices in the market. These laws deter the sellers from making false advertisements or selling low-quality products. Under Federal Law No. 15 of 2020, consumers are safe from buying unsatisfactory products in the UAE.
The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) authority monitors the consumer protection rights in Dubai. They work under the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Whether it is a complaint or penalizing the offender, the department handles all types of inquiries.
Additionally, the Ministry of Economy is significant in making policies for consumer protection rights. However, the online consumer complaint mechanisms have eased the life of many individuals who have been victims for false advertisement. Moreover, the professional Dubai law firms have also jumped into the consumer market to ensure the safety of the buyers.
Common Consumer Complaints and Violations
The disputes for consumers in the UAE occur in certain circumstances, including the misleading product descriptions, overcharging on the final purchase, buying an expired product, or no refund or return policy from the seller. Wherever you are buying from, the policy of exchange, refund, or return is always there. With the increasing trend of digital workspace, e-commerce transactions are becoming difficult too. The online buyers have the same issues as people in the stores have during their purchase.
In such cases, professional Dubai-based lawyers are helpful. They can get you good compensation against the product that you have bought from a store or online. All you need is to keep the invoices and receipts with you throughout the case.
Return, Refund, and Warranty Policies
The consumers in the UAE can have the product returned or exchanged under specific conditions. The product shall be returned within 7 to 14 days, depending on the store’s return policy. Secondly, the product is little or not used by the consumer as it has to be replaced under faulty item. The warranty of the product should be valid.
Refund and exchange are the legal rights of the consumers. Therefore, the retailers cannot deny this legal right and display any signage that says ‘No Refunds’ or ‘No Exchange’.
Price Transparency and Fair Billing
Often buying is exhausting, as sometimes it comes as a surprise for many consumers. There are hidden charges that the individual would get to know at the point-of-sale. However, the retailers are clearly instructed to display full prices on every item before the consumer makes the final purchase. These kinds of practices are especially monitored in restaurants, online marketplaces, and telecom companies. Additionally, the customers are also told to verify their bills, ensuring safe buying practices.
Regulations on E-commerce and Online Shopping
E-commerce has grown in the UAE. Therefore, the government has to observe strict consumer rights. To avoid any violation in consumer protection rights, the e-commerce businesses have to maintain their standards. They have to provide the exact product description as the product is. Additionally, the policies for return, shipping and delivery shall be disclosed online before the consumer pays for the product.
Violating any consumer protection rights by the seller will result in financial penalty and revoking of the license. However, consumers can make online complaints through the Dubai Consumer App.
Kinds of Misleading Advertising and Promotions
Usually, the consumers have complaints about quality and false claims. The advertisements are usually exaggerated, increasing the hype of the product. A misleading advertisement can be related to false claims about the quality of the product and offer discounts that are not available when purchased. Sometimes, the image is bigger than the actual product. Companies offering burgers and beverages usually do this kind of advertisement.
Resolve Disputes in the UAE
Consumers can have dispute resolution in different ways. They can contact the vendor directly and talk to them about the unsatisfied purchase they have made. If the customer does not want to visit the store or they cannot resolve the case directly through the seller, then they can choose other options. A complaint can be made through the Dubai consumer app or reported to the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Authority. The consumers can also take the case to the Dubai courts.
FAQs about Consumer Protection Rights in Dubai
If a retailer refuses to refund a faulty product, then what are the remedies?
There are other avenues if the retailer does not cooperate. The consumer can visit Dubai courts or make a complaint to the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector. However, they should have strong proof against the wrong purchase.
The online purchases: Are these protected under Dubai’s consumer laws or not?
The e-commerce business is successful across the UAE. However, the laws are the same as they are implemented for in-store consumer buying. The important thing is that the online seller must mention accurate information about the product. They should also add their policies for return, exchange, and warranty for the product.
Can businesses legally post signs that say “No Refunds” in Dubai?
Every business in the UAE must have policies for return, refund, and exchange. It is the consumer’s legal right. Therefore, disclaimers like ‘No Refunds’ cannot be given by the retailers. The lawyers in Dubai can help businesses understand the consumer laws in the UAE.
If a service provider fails to meet expectations, what can be the compensations?
If you find out that the services were unsatisfactory, you can ask for compensation. Usually, the services of event management or repairs are compensated. The case can be escalated to CCCP if the service provider does not cooperate.