56 fines imposed on traders in Dubai for flouting rules enforced by DED.
Published: Wed 6 Jan 2016, 5:59 PM
As many as 56 fines have been imposed on traders in Dubai for flouting rules enforced by the Department of Economic Development, Dubai (DED).
The offences were reported following a crackdown launched by the field surveillance section at the commercial compliance and consumer protection sector on trade offices to see if they adhered to the terms set by DED regarding trade licences.
Complaints and ResponsesMan rents car, shop takes it back without his permission: The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) has directed a car rental company to return Dh320,000 to a tourist that he had paid for a luxury car. After renting out the car to the complainant for a specific period of time, the company took the car back without his consent, claiming another customer had booked it in advance.
The tourist filed a complaint with the DED after the company refused to refund his money.
According to Ayman Al Falasi, senior director of Consumer Complaints Section, in his complaint, the man claimed that after he received the car, the car rental company contacted him and asked him to return the car. The company said the car had been booked by somebody else.
The tourist refused to do so. The next day, he was "astonished" when a staff of the car rental company went to his residence and drove the car away without his consent.
He said he called the shop for a refund, but they were "unwilling" to do so.
After studying the complaint, it became clear that the shop in question had rented the luxury car from another shop for a period of time. This other shop, however, had reserved the car for another customer.
Accordingly, the Consumer Complaints Section contacted the shop manager and directed him to return the money to the complainant since this was a "blatant infringement of the rental contract".
The section later called the complainant and ensured that he had received his money before he left the country.
Al Falasi said the complaint had also been referred the Commercial Compliance Department. The shop will be warned to not repeat the offence and to abide by the terms of contracts it signs with customers.
salah@khaleejtimes.com |
"Trade licences of offices and commercial buildings...are subjected to inspection by the sector as per the standards and conditions which are designed to streamline the business activities in Dubai," said Ahmed Al Awadhi, senior director of the field surveillance section.
He said most of the violations regarding trade licenses included no proper trade name, trade name in the documents not matching that registered in the trade license or trade name not written in Arabic on the signboard of the office.
"Also merchants have been advised not to store goods in huge quantities in their offices and shops turning the facilities to stores," he said adding they were also asked to ensure there were no additional signboards as these cannot be installed unless a permit is obtained from the department.
Traders and businessmen were also urged to adhere to all the terms and conditions on advertisement and not to turn their trade offices and shops into accommodation for their workers.
Al Awadhi called on the businessmen and merchants to get permits issued for additional offices in case there was space for additional offices allowed in the same trade licence and the same business activity. He also told them to ensure that their trade establishments and offices have valid licences and were practicing the economic activity as per the law. He asked them to ensure getting the bills, contracts and other documents which maintain their rights, and ensure their statements, invoices or receipts were in compliance with the trade name and the trade licence of the store or the office they are dealing with.
You are taking a big risk buying duplicate goods
The Department of Economic Development-Dubai (DED) spares no effort in combating all forms of trade fraud by launching inspection visits to trade establishments on ?daily basis.
It quickly responds to the complaints lodged by consumers against errant establishments, which helps DED issue tickets to such stores and confiscate fake goods. All of us know how dangerous it is to handle duplicate products, and we had repeatedly warned against the hazards of those items.
These fake items do not have any standards, nor are they checked if they are fit for use, but are cheap compared to the genuine ones.
Additionally, many complaints were filed on the damages and harms the fake products have caused, particularly cosmetics, automobile spare parts and others which pose threat on consumer's life and health.
Many traders hide the duplicate goods in residential flats and in unlicensed places to keep away from the eyes of the watchdog entities.
Unfortunately, some consumers get coaxed by them and visit these places inviting trouble.
Consumers must avoid dealing with unscrupulous and rogue traders, and must distinguish between the real and fraud businessman.
Keep in mind, if a trade or business is legal, the trader will not hide products from the public eye and lure you to visit secret places and buy his products.
(Told by Mashhoor Al Shamsi, senior director, Intellectual Property IssuesT Agencies)
salah@khaleejtimes.com
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