More than OMR15,000 has been recovered for consumers in Muscat this year, the PACP has said.

The Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) was able to recover OMR15,225 in cases related to electronic and electrical equipment during the first four months of 2017. 

Waleed bin Ali Al Rawahi, Director of the Complaints Department said that 69 machines and devices were replaced and retrieved for those cases.

"They varied between phones, air conditioners, televisions and other appliances such as ovens, vacuum cleaners, and refrigerators. Reasons for the consumer protection complaints included the repeated occurrence of malfunctions on items, within the guarantee period," Al Rawahi said

Reasons for the complaints also included failure to provide devices/machines in accordance with the contract, and within the agreed upon timing.

According to Item 16 of the Consumer Protection Law, commodities can be replaced or returned and recovered at no additional cost within 15 days from the date of receipt of the item, except for perishable consumer goods, if the product is defected.

Items may also be replaced or returned within the time period if they are not conforming to the standard specifications, or the purpose for which the item was contracted for. This is provided that proof of purchase is given by the supplier, and that the defect was not a result of the consumer's misuse of the commodity.

Al-Rawahi added that the Authority has managed during this last period to solve many complaints and disputes in consumer rights, and called on institutions and companies to adhere to delivery dates and the agreed upon specifications for consumers. He stressed the need for consumer awareness, and the importance of claiming consumer rights by communicating with Consumer Protection for any issues.