A shop that adds a separate charge for the bottle at the till is using an unfair trading practice, Bulgaria's Consumer Protection Commission (KZP) said. Under the Consumer Protection Act, the fine for this is between €1,500 and €50,000.
The commission checked the shop after a complaint about a Bulgarian beer. The label said €0.55, but at the till the shop added €0.22 for the bottle, so the customer paid €0.77 in total.
The shop sells different brands of beer in different sizes. Inspectors found that it did not show separate prices for the glass bottles anywhere. There was also no note next to the goods on whether the bottle can be returned.
KZP says the trader does not tell buyers key information: what extra sums are due and on what terms. Buyers learn about the higher price only at the till, when the goods are rung up, or after they have already paid.
The commission also named a second, similar case at a retail chain. A customer chose olives in a plastic bag instead of a tub, and at the till was charged a separate €0.18 for the bag. No price for the packaging, of either type, was shown next to the olives. The chain was fined €2,556 under the Consumer Protection Act.