The Commission for Consumer Protection warns traders of strict sanctions for violations of consumer rights.

The Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) categorically warns all traders in the country that any violation of consumer rights will be sanctioned with the full force of the law. Checks recently carried out by the CPC in commercial premises have found cases of systematic charging of additional packaging fees that were not requested by consumers and were not even provided to them. In other cases, customers have been deprived of the right to information and have been misled into paying higher prices than advertised.

These practices, defined as unfair, pose a serious threat to the economic interests of consumers. The current cases are a signal that, despite clear legal regulation, some traders continue to apply flawed mechanisms aimed at hidden benefit at the expense of consumers. This is particularly worrying in the context of the expected introduction of the euro, when there will be even more new requirements, including new rules for dual pricing.

The CPC reminds that control will be even more intensive in the transition period to the single currency. No violations will be tolerated - neither technical "errors" nor excuses related to the "complexity of the systems". The law is equally binding on everyone.

The Commission calls on all traders to comply with the requirements, to be transparent and loyal to their customers. The state will use all mechanisms to guarantee the rights of consumers - both now and during the transition to the euro. Established violations lead to administrative penalties, including fines and property sanctions, as well as a ban on the application of these unfair trading practices.