With school holidays underway and the Christmas spirit around, consumers will be surely travelling to and fro outer islands to celebrate the festive season with their loved ones. For those who are not able to travel, tend to send parcels over to their families and friends. When planning local travel, many rely on inter-island shipping […]
When it comes to sticking to the budget whilst buying goods, consumers are able to sacrifice some goods which they do not necessarily need at that point in time. However, the same cannot be said when it comes to buying medication. There are certain medications that are not supplied by the government hospitals. Hence, the […]
Not everyone can be legal experts hence, when ordinary consumers want assistance related to legal matters, they seek the services of legal practitioners. Most lawyers do their utmost to provide the best services. However, there are some lawyers who are not professional and ethical.A basic professional responsibility of a lawyer is to ensure that they […]
The Consumer Council of Fiji has innumerable times spoken out on issues pertaining to landlord and tenancy. Most of the cases which are talked about involves the tenants suffering at the hands of mean and insensitive landlords. However, there are a handful of cases where tenants behave irresponsibly.Landlord and Tenancy is one of the top […]
Purchasing household items is no longer a far-fetched dream for consumers as Hire Purchase (HP) companies tend to offer lucrative deals with affordable interest rates. Consumers have the simple task of getting their documents in place and securing the deal.But how often do consumers read and understand the terms and conditions of their HP account? […]
This article is a continuation of the council’s response to Savenaca Narube’s article on “Poor carry the cost” published in The Fiji Times on 21/10/17. This article will focus on the process involved in introducing eticketing and the cost borne by poor consumers if eticketing was not the option. Submissions/consultations/reasons for the eticketing system From […]
The Consumer Council of Fiji would like to respond to the article by Savenaca Narube on “Poor carry the cost” published in the Fiji Times on 21/10/17. From his article it is very clear that Mr. Narube is ill informed and his analysis lacks depth. Prepaid Service & Interest To begin with, Mr. Narube raised […]
Majority of mechanics are good, but everyone’s heard a story or two that can make leaving your car with a mechanic a scary ordeal. Motor vehicles are a large responsibility for people as it is one of their biggest investments. All vehicles need maintenance from time to time and of course repairing when unforeseen breakdowns […]
How would you feel if despite undertaking a Health Insurance policy and paying all the required premiums, you are unable to claim it when the need arises? To make it worse, you do not have any options to take any action against the insurance provider. One would feel simply frustrated to say the least. But […]
‘Taki’, ‘mix’ and ‘baby mix’ are some common words used by kava drinkers in Fiji. Consumption of kava is seen as a mode to relax after a hard day’s work and to socialise with friends and family during social gatherings. In a recent “Kava Value Chain Analysis” conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, it was […]
Vacation is the time of the year which people tirelessly plan to ensure that their vacation takes place without any hassle. Planning in advance not only provides peace of mind, but also saves money, making it a lot easier to enjoy. Undoubtedly, Fiji is a tourist destination and with a plethora of accommodation, tourists have […]
Buying a vehicle brings a sense of pride to the owner. They know that a vehicle will make their travelling easier and ultimately fetch a good price when it is sold off. Hence, when purchasing a vehicle, consumers pay attention to factors which will ensure their vehicle is marketable in the years to come. No […]
Is it worth taking a loan that charges 30 percent interest rate? Daniel urgently required $11,000 to carry out repair works on his house. Since he was in desperate need for money, Daniel visited a financial service provider in the central division to apply for an unsecured loan. In his desperation, he did not see […]
Buying a vehicle is one of the most important financial decision a person can make in his or her life. However, consumers when purchasing vehicles, tend to overlook significant aspects of the product. The most important things which need to be considered are the physical appearance of the product, functionality, its warranty, and after-sales service. […]
Knowing how to drive and having a license is an essential requirement in people’s life. Whether it is for business or personal use this often involves seeking the services of a driving school. Without a doubt, there are numerous driving schools operating all over Fiji, some with unreasonably high teaching fees. The driving school fees […]