There is growing evidence that Malta is being treated as a ‘second-class citizen’ when it comes to internet shopping.

This newspaper ran a series of stories a couple of years back that led to a PQ being asked by MEP Simon Busuttil in the European Parliament on the issue of exchange rates. But now, the issue has grown wider. In a recent press conference, the Malta Consumers Association said it was receiving some 20 to 30 complaints every week from internet shoppers naming shops and companies that do not send items to Malta.

At a press conference to mark Consumers Day, the association explained some 90% of its complaints lately were about internet shopping. Most were about clothes.

Many people use internet shopping facilities because it is more convenient to do so and because it is also cheaper. Yet, while the local post carrier continues to enjoy a good and improving international reputation, sellers are becoming increasingly more reluctant to ship goods to Malta. This has been noticed at the level of both internet shops, and individual sellers who base themselves in online markets, such as eBay.

Malta already suffers from insularity. It is an island where goods arrive on ships or through post or by courier. Internet shopping is one way in which consumers can bypass the high prices which we find in Malta – some due to logistics, others due to plain greed. But the fact that sellers do not deliver to Malta obviously defeats the object.

Sometimes, sellers use the excuse that there is not enough demand to set up delivery strategies for Malta. We believe this to be a frivolous argument. Malta is a European Union destination. The local post service, by and large, is trusted, and the prices to send items to Malta are the same as other islands and continental countries.

Our MEPs need to step up the fight within the European institutions. Often, action is not taken simply because there is not enough momentum from the general public to make an issue out of it. If the Consumers Association is receiving that amount of complaints on the issue, it should first lobby with the parliamentary secretariat of Chris Said and also with MEPs from both the parties. Between 20 and 30 complaint calls a week related to items not being shipped to Malta is not a trivial matter. It is a clear indication that Malta is being looked over, or, to put it quite bluntly, the Maltese consumer is being discriminated against. Maltese consumers have been getting the short end of the stick for many years. Since EU membership, there has been a significant improvement in respect for consumer rights on a local level. But, at cross-border level, as we have mentioned, consumers are still getting a raw deal. This is a perfect opportunity for the association to test its mettle. It will get the backing of people, but it must be seen to be proactive so as to inspire trust. The simple fact that the association is actually receiving complaints is an expression of trust from the general public, and this has to be built on further.