Bulgaria's consumer watchdog, the Commission for Consumer Protection (KZP), is stepping up checks on online shops and traders during the Black Friday sales, the agency said. Inspectors are checking whether discounts are real, prices are correct and adverts mislead people about how much they save.
A trader found using unfair practices can be fined up to €50,000. For each proven case of a fake discount, the fine is between €400 and €4,000.
The checks cover sellers of electronics, clothes, shoes and other goods. Inspectors compare the earlier price with the reduced one, see how long a promotion runs and check whether the advert matches its real terms. KZP says it wants to protect shoppers' money and keep trade open and honest.
People can report traders who raise prices before the sales and then present them as heavily reduced. KZP advises giving exact details of the online shop, the product and the offer in the complaint. Screenshots that clearly show the prices, adverts and promotion terms also help.
In Sofia, complaints are taken at 1 Vrabcha Street, on the ground floor, from 9:00 to 17:30. Outside the capital, people can file them at KZP's regional offices, whose addresses are on the commission's website. The consumer hotline is 0700 111 22.
KZP says complaints rise sharply every year after Black Friday, because shoppers place too much trust in unreliable online sellers. The commission also warns of many fake online shops that appear each year and close right after the sales. That lets their owners cover their tracks, and buyers cannot return the goods. KZP works with the police and other bodies on such cases.
The commission advises people not to buy on impulse just because of a "big discount", and to compare offers across different online shops. Before buying, it says, they should read the terms and delivery details carefully and check that all extra costs are in the final price.
KZP also recommends checking that the shop has a reliable way to return goods, with a real address and phone number, and not a number like 0987 654 321.
When buying at a distance, buyers have the right to cancel the contract within 14 days, the commission reminds people.