Beware of scams

There are still scams doing the rounds. Indeed, a reader told me he received a letter informing him that his name was attached to a ticket number and that he had won the lottery in the third category. He was told that he was approved for a lump sum payout of €605,315 (Six hundred, five thousand three hundred and fifteen euros). He played along with them until they asked him to pay a fee of two thousand euros, “to process his winnings”. He told them to take the money out of his winnings whereupon they dropped him like a hot potato.

What I find unnerving is the Payment Processing and Transfer form where, among other personal details, he was asked to provide the address of his bank, account number, home address, e-mail address, and telephone number. I hope nobody in Malta and Gozo fell for it. However, if anybody who received a letter informing him or her that they won a sum of money and got bitten, I am prepared to feature what happened without publishing their name. For what it’s worth it would be quite an eye-opener for all readers. This is not the first time we have referred to this issue. Fortunately, most readers who receive such letters don’t fall for it. Unfortunately however, there are persons who fell for it. As the saying goes, whether we like it or not, scams are there. While we are on the subject, the following scam is currently circulating:

If you receive a call on your mobile from someone telling you that they are checking your mobile line and ask you to press #90 or #09 or any other number, end the call immediately without pressing any number. There is a fraud company that is using a device, which, after you press #90 or #09 or any other number, can access your SIM card and make calls at your expense.

Both Motorola and Nokia have confirmed this information. Over three million mobile phones have been affected. You can see this information on the CNN website.

Adverts for children

It is important for parents to ask themselves: “On what basis do traders direct their advertising to children?” The most apparent reason is based on the influence children have on their parents. Indeed, children are playing a growing role in consumer decisions. Although the amount of money children spend is not big, many advertisements are directed at them because they can influence their parents.

Many parents have expressed resentment at various marketing people for the impact advertising has had on their children. The more products are directed at children, the more must parents be strict. In the prevailing scenario, parents are left with the following three options:

1.) Choose to give in and buy every thing their children ask for, as much as they can afford.

2.) Ignore their children’s demands and spend their money as they deem fit.

3.) Take the time to explain to their children why buying certain products is not the right way to spend the family income.

The third alternative involves the most time and effort. However, young children can be taught to distinguish between reality and advertising hype. Parents can also help their children make the right decisions. A particular effective method would be for the parents to ask their children to give them three logical and sensible options for buying what they want. In a nutshell, statements like “because I want it!” are not acceptable.

Shop owners

must display prices

When shopping, consumers have the right to know the price of all items for sale without having to ask the shopkeeper. Indeed it is against the law not to display the price on all items for sale. It should never be necessary for a consumer to ask how much an item costs.

One of the objectives here is to protect consumers from shop owners who have mastered the ‘hard sell’ technique. When vulnerable consumers are subjected to the ‘hard sell’ treatment after asking for information on a specific item, they are susceptible to being persuaded to buy something they do not really want or need. Another reason why shop owners don’t like displaying prices is the old playing one’s cards close to one’s chest tactic to avoid competing outlets undercutting them. In no uncertain terms, such situations deny us one of the advantages of a free marketplace. In this specific context, with a particular focus on mobile phones, have you noticed any shops where none of the mobile phones on display bear a price tag?

I appeal to the relevant competent authorities to enforce the law on the display of prices. However, as we all know, there are two types of law: the law itself and market forces. In Maltese the latter is more aptly named the law of the market place (il-ligi tas-suq).

Here I appeal to you, dear readers, to join forces and maximize on the law of the market place. First of all, to have a positive effect we must support outlets where all items for sale are price tagged. On the other hand, we must make it clear to those culprits who do not display prices that they are breaking the law. It is also important to give them clear messages by asking them how much various items cost. Moreover, if you are prepared to be awkward don’t be shy. Always bear in mind that, in the first place, such shops are breaking the law and in doing so they are actually denying our rights as consumers. Indeed, if we want to know the price of every single item they have on display, we have the right to ask and they are legally obliged to tell us.

In any case, I’d rather focus on the positive aspect in that we ought to share information about mobile phone shops where all items on display bear a price tag. Such outlets deserve our support. I encourage you to write to me if you see such outlets so that we can share the information with fellow consumers.

How to use this column

Send your letters by ordinary mail to The Customer Service Column, The Malta Independent on Sunday, Standard House, Birkirkara Hill, St Julian’s STJ 1149 or by e-mail to [email protected], including your and the respective trader’s/supplier’s full name and address, outlining your grievance and copy in the respective trader /supplier.

Complainants must be prepared to have their full personal details disclosed to traders/suppliers, their case published, and their name featured in full. It is up to the complainant to chase the progress of his/her case with the supplier by ordinary mail or e-mail while, also copying me in.

We follow up all letters of complaint by asking suppliers /traders for their comments. Since we have cases where traders/suppliers refuse to communicate, complainants are kindly requested to inform us if their case has been positively resolved. It is regretted that advice on personal complaints cannot always be given.

Unfortunately, we often have consumers who refer their case to this column and, when their case is positively concluded, they ask us not to feature the case.

Therefore, we must stress that LETTERS, ONCE SENT, CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN AND ALL CASES ARE SUBJECT TO PUBLICATION. Readers are kindly requested not to phone The Malta Independent offices in connection with the column. They must put their queries in

writing.