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Prices not correct

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  • 04-12-2008 1:29pm
    #1
    Tim Robbins
    Registered Users Posts: 8,998 ✭✭✭


    Hi,
    I went into a shop in town to buy a beef burrito. It was marked as 6.50 but I was subsequently charged 7.25.

    I was told the price on the sign was wrong and was being updated.

    I went back in a number of week later and the prices were still wrong.
    Again I pointed this out to them, but was given same answer.

    Who should I complain to about this?

    Alex


Comments

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    #2
    jdivision
    Registered Users Posts: 4,260 ✭✭✭jdivision


    Them? If not the consumers association


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    #3
    shellyboo
    Registered Users Posts: 5,883 ✭✭✭shellyboo


    Tim Robbins wrote: »
    Hi,
    I went into a shop in town to buy a beef burrito. It was marked as 6.50 but I was subsequently charged 7.25.

    I was told the price on the sign was wrong and was being updated.

    I went back in a number of week later and the prices were still wrong.
    Again I pointed this out to them, but was given same answer.

    Who should I complain to about this?

    Alex


    You need to complain to the National Consumer Agency - this is the body that brings companies to court over misleading pricing under the Consumer Protection Act.


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    #4
    dudara
    Registered Users Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    Companies/retailers are allowed to have errors, as long as they are genuine. If they are repeat offenders, and making no effort to keep prices up to date, then you can make a complaint. Read here for more information with regard to pricing.


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    #5
    AnonoBoy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,559 ✭✭✭✭AnonoBoy


    I always thought that if they have a price on display then they have to sell it to you at that price.


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    #6
    Burning Eclipse
    Registered Users Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭Burning Eclipse


    AnonoBoy wrote: »
    I always thought that if they have a price on display then they have to sell it to you at that price.

    Nope. Goods on display constitute an 'invitation to treat'; blame Boots for that ;)

    Google or wiki it and it will explain all.

    EDIT: Here you go


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    #7
    BuddhaJoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 329 ✭✭BuddhaJoe


    AnonoBoy wrote: »
    I always thought that if they have a price on display then they have to sell it to you at that price.

    No. The price tag on an item displayed in a shop is an invitation-to-treat and not an offer of sale (the acceptance of which constitutes a contract).


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    #8
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Same here. You can try putting the money on the counter and just leaving the shop.

    Or in a very loud voice say "these prices have not been updated since I was here 3 weeks ago. You LIE!" Then refuse to pay the new price and ask for the manager*

    *this only works during lunchtime and you're sober.

    Or put in your post: Please be aware that XXX shop on XXX street are currently updating their prices. Prices advertised are incorrect and will be amended sometime.


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    #9
    antoinolachtnai
    Registered Users Posts: 9,793 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    The NCA's policy is not to investigate individual complaints about incorrect pricing.


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    #10
    shellyboo
    Registered Users Posts: 5,883 ✭✭✭shellyboo


    antoinolachtnai wrote: »
    The NCA's policy is not to investigate individual complaints about incorrect pricing.

    I would imagine they need a certain amount of complaints before they'll send out an inspector alright... all the more reason for the OP to complain, really. If people don't bring these things to their attention, they're never going to know.


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    #11
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭jor el


    According to this Blog article, the NCA is pretty much useless anyway. Less than 1% of complaints are brought to prosecution.

    Os, to answer the question "who do I complain to about this?", nobody, because nothing will be done anyway.

    You could also report it to the Consumer Association of Ireland.


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    #12
    shellyboo
    Registered Users Posts: 5,883 ✭✭✭shellyboo


    jor el wrote: »
    According to this Blog article, the NCA is pretty much useless anyway. Less than 1% of complaints are brought to prosecution.

    Os, to answer the question "who do I complain to about this?", nobody, because nothing will be done anyway.

    You could also report it to the Consumer Association of Ireland.

    Yes, they're essentially useless. Yes, you could complain to the CAI instead. But the NCA are the people who prosecute dodgy retailers and enforce the laws. The CAI is not a government agency, it's independent. The NCA actually has the power to do something about it - however unlikely that is to happen!


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    #13
    antoinolachtnai
    Registered Users Posts: 9,793 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    shellyboo wrote: »
    I would imagine they need a certain amount of complaints before they'll send out an inspector alright... all the more reason for the OP to complain, really. If people don't bring these things to their attention, they're never going to know.

    No, they send out a questionnaire to ask them about their procedures.

    Then they may or may not call by to check prices in a so called 'price blitz' or 'risk based compliance check'.

    The ODCA used to follow up every single complaint.

    The NCA don't actually need to prosecute. They can issue on-the-spot fines.

    If the NCA budget is short a few euros for the year in these hard pressed times, they can just send inspectors out and collect the money off the people that you receive complaints about. Every mispriced item they find, the NCA can collect a few hundred euros. It should be easy.

    I know which I'd do if I had a choice between sending out surveys and levying on-the-spot fines.

    Hopefully the merged NCA/TCA will take better advantage of this moneyspinner.


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    #14
    Tim Robbins
    Registered Users Posts: 8,998 ✭✭✭Tim Robbins


    antoinolachtnai wrote: »
    No, they send out a questionnaire to ask them about their procedures.

    Then they may or may not call by to check prices in a so called 'price blitz' or 'risk based compliance check'.

    The ODCA used to follow up every single complaint.

    The NCA don't actually need to prosecute. They can issue on-the-spot fines.

    If the NCA budget is short a few euros for the year in these hard pressed times, they can just send inspectors out and collect the money off the people that you receive complaints about. Every mispriced item they find, the NCA can collect a few hundred euros. It should be easy.

    I know which I'd do if I had a choice between sending out surveys and levying on-the-spot fines.

    Hopefully the merged NCA/TCA will take better advantage of this moneyspinner.
    Loads of shops in Dublin get their prices wrong. They get away with it because people don't complain. It's also a sneaky way of introducing price increases.


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