Monday 09 / June / 2025
Muscat: Over OMR59,000 has been recovered by the consumer watchdogs so far in 2018, from five areas.
The Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) managed to recover OMR59,255 for consumers in Barka, Rustaq, Seeb, Izki and Dhahira within the first four months of this year.
Izki
Three suspects were fined OMR4,200 for selling expired cakes in a school cafeteria. A school in Izki, complained to the Department of Consumer Protection in Dakhiliyah, stating that a salesman at the school canteen sold expired and undated cakes. The authority inspected the canteen and seized the goods.
The first and second defendants were fined OMR2,000 each and the third defendant fined OMR200.
Dhahira
The authority received a complaint from a consumer claiming to have bought an SUV from a car showroom in Dhahira. After numerous examinations, it was revealed that the vehicle had a technical fault. The consumer contacted the owner to receive a refund. It was then that the consumer contacted the authority, who charged the owner with not disclosing the defect in the vehicle to the consumer. The owner repaid the consumer OMR4,000 in return for the vehicle.
Rustaq
The Department of Consumer Protection in Rustaq recovered OMR8,782 for consumers during the first quarter of the year 2018, according to the statistical indicators from the administration.
The returns were distributed to a number of sectors, mainly the vehicle sector and its services with a recoverable amount of OMR1,800. OMR800 was recovered in the construction sector, followed by the labour services sector at OMR600, and travel and tourism sector with OMR342. Furniture, aluminum, electronics, and textile sector returns amounted to OMR1,140.
The report also pointed out that the total administrative fines during the same period amounted to OMR4,100 divided into a number of violations, including the sale and supply of expired goods.
Barka
The Consumer Protection Department in Barka imposed administrative fines of OMR4,100 against four commercial establishments.
The first report was received by the TRA call centre when a consumer found mold in a food item purchased from a commercial center, the establishment was fined OMR500.
While three suspects were found with non-smoking tobacco, an administrative fine of OMR1,000 was imposed for each violator. The other penalties included fines for raising the prices of goods, selling expired goods and not placing prices on goods.
In another case, the department in Barka also managed to recover OMR2,514 for consumers. OMR704 to a consumer who purchased building materials that were different to the type he wanted.
On the other hand, a consumer received OMR1,810 from a company that failed to deliver an order of metal.
Seeb
The Department of Consumer Protection in Seeb was able to recover OMR28,009 for a number of consumers in March, 2018.
From the workshop and vehicle sector, OMR9,342 was recovered for consumers in Seeb. In addition to OMR13,028 from Construction, Aluminium, and labour. While the rest was recovered from electronic, furniture, accessories, tourism services, and other service sectors.
In another case,a consumer made a complaint against an owner of a car showroom. According to the complaint, the paid for the car but never received it from the showroom. The owner agreed to pay the consumer OMR7,650.
