A number of retailers across the country are being prosecuted for breaking sales pricing laws.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has launched proceedings against multiple retailers.
Shops in the electrical, cosmetics, furniture, clothes and shoes' sectors are due before the courts in January next year.
The alleged breaches were identified during sweeps done by the CCPC during the 2023-2024 winter sales season, including Black Friday and the January sales.
On Newstalk Breakfast, CCPC Chair Brian McHugh said the commission are announcing these prosecutions today because it believes it is “very important on Black Friday” to remind retailers the Commission “are out there”.
He said it is vital that “consumers be aware” if they see any issues with discounts they know they can let the Commission know.
Mr McHugh said the Commission have put “huge effort” into these prosecutions.
“It's something that consumers find very frustrating,” he said.
“We've carried out hundreds of inspections, we have identified a number of companies that we think it's appropriate to take a prosecution - so, we do view it as very serious.
“I would also say that there are lots of businesses out there who have really good systems in place and whose discounts are real.”
“Wider and stronger punishments”
While breaking retailers breaking consumer laws can face serious consequences, the CCPC have said Ireland needs “wider and stronger punishments”.
“It's really important that the punishment fits the crime, and consumer breaches of the law can cause serious harm to sometimes tens of thousands of consumers,” Mr McHugh said.
“So, we do think we should get additional powers so that we can levy fines ourselves.
“We already have that for competition breaches and we think breaches of consumer law are just as important, [so] we should have the power to levy fines to suit the punishments.”
Consumer reports
Mr McHugh encouraged consumers who come across breaches in consumer law in terms of sale prices on Black Friday to report the retailer at ccpc.ie.
“You can go to ccpc.ie and there are forms there to fill out,” he said.
Mr McHugh said that while the Commission has “carried out hundreds of inspections”, consumer reports are really helpful.
He said the Commission can “open investigations off the back of those” consumer reports, possibly even ending in prosecution.
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Pictured is Sive Dollan on Black Friday. 23/11/2018 Photograph: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
