Getting hit with an unexpected medical bill is sometimes more unpleasant than falling ill. Have you ever come across a situation where after receiving a medical treatment from your doctor, you were simply out-of-pocket? To many consumers, a hefty medical bill comes as a surprise when there is no pre-disclosure about the fees and they […]

Many  consumers these days are becoming tech-savvy using  internet for  banking, shopping, paying bills and purchasing airline tickets, etc. Life has become easy but on the flip-side, we are getting exposed to technologically-driven crimes. Some consumers have been targeted by foreign hackers who obtained bank account details from people via emails, social networks, text messages […]

Health remains a top agenda for consumers again this year. Consumer movements are once again joining together to mark the World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), celebrated globally on 15 March. The theme is related to tackling a major international public health crisis, which is caused by Antimicrobial/Antibiotic Resistance (AMR). The Global consumer movement, Consumers International […]

The world continues to see an increase in fraudulent transactions with credit card hackers targeting banks using internet. This trend is particularly worrying as more and more people are choosing the convenience of online banking.  Financial service providers make their systems as secure as possible but hackers and certain technological hiccups give rise to fraud […]

Disagreements, disputes and conflicts are just inevitable. The worst bit about such a situation is that when relationships are strained and deals turn sour, it is difficult to mend the bridges between the parties. Many a times, the disputes end up in court. But then again, not everyone can afford a traditional lawsuit. As a […]

Consumers must always know what they are paying for when    billed for    services they have sought. Hence, the service-provider must provide the customer a clear, transparent and itemized bill or invoice  Every now and then, frustrated consumers   contact the Council regarding ambiguous or unclear bills/invoices given by some businesses which consumers cannot understand. The question […]

Last week, we highlighted Ashok Lal’s ordeal of consuming Betadine skin solution (iodine) while undergoing treatment at a private hospital.  By way of a deed of settlement, the hospital authorities waived all medical charges accrued by Mr Lal arising from his stay in the hospital. This was the only relief received by Mr Lal. His […]

“Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that’s no reason not to give it”. ―Agatha Christie In life, the least expected things happen at least expected time. Ashok Lal, a salesman in his mid-50s experienced something similar in his life three years ago, which haunts him even today. And, there is much to learn […]

With the opening of the tertiary institutions around the country for the new academic year, many students are in the process of securing flats or rooms to rent.  The experience can be quite painful for some renters who are unfamiliar with the present rental landscape. With such a competitive market and quick rental turnover, for […]

The Consumer Council of Fiji received and investigated 1,672 complaints between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015, with a monetary value of $4,739,690.77. Of this, a sum of $3,429,560.82 was recovered by successfully resolving 1,041 cases through mediation and given back to the consumers. Mediation is widely used by the Council to get people […]

In tight financial situations, old-fashioned lay-by appears to be a preferred option.  It is an easy way of buying something without having to pay for it all at once and without any interest or fees.   A layby sale is a far better option than hire purchase if consumers know that they can pay for the […]

Life is unpredictable. You never know what challenges are coming your way. Many who have a home loan or simply hire purchase payments to make and suddenly lose their jobs or livelihood, live on the edge of financial disaster.  Managing their debt and life becomes a battle. Jesoni, who used to earn a living for […]

We refer to Professor Wadan Narsey’s write up titled “When central banks ‘steal’ from you” in your edition dated 26 March 2016. The Council values Prof. Narsey’s keen interest in generating debate on pertinent issues affecting consumers’ socio-economic interest. No doubt, the transition between the old currency and the new one, is an important issue […]

We refer to Selwa Nandan’s write up titled “Wider Role of Watchdog” in your Business News column, dated 19 February 2016. The Council appreciates Mr. Nandan’s interest in consumerism and for commending the Council for the ongoing job of holding the unethical traders and service providers in the private sector accountable.   We also note […]

All consumers are looking forward to 1 January 2016, with 6% VAT reduction coming into effect in the New Year. This means consumers can expect to pay lesser for wide range of goods and services with the reforms in the country’s taxation system (VAT reduction from 15% to 9%) We expect to see price drops […]