CCPC publishes Consumer Protection List 2022
June 6, 2023
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published its annual Consumer Protection List 2022 (CPL) which details its consumer protection enforcement activities.
Commenting on the Consumer Protection List 2022, Kevin O’Brien, Member of the Commission, said:
“The CCPC regularly engages with traders to improve compliance with consumer protection law. However, where traders refuse to engage with the CCPC or, where they fail to make the required changes to their trading practices, enforcement action is necessary.
The Consumer Rights Act, which was commenced in November 2022, has brought about a number of positive changes for consumers, including stronger consumer rights, protections and remedies across a number of key areas. The range of enforcement options now open to the CCPC has been enhanced and expanded and it’s expected that the impact of the new legislation will feature heavily in the 2023 Consumer Protection List.”
Throughout 2022, Authorised Officers of the CCPC conducted 50 online inspections and 49 online re-inspections to assess businesses’ compliance with various pieces of legislation including Online Dispute Resolution, Consumer Rights Directive and e-commerce regulations.
Over 2022, the CCPC carried out a series of unannounced inspections in Cavan, Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Monaghan and Sligo of car traders who were suspected of selling clocked or previously crashed cars and had been subject of multiple complaints made to the CCPC.
Prosecutions
Three prosecutions for vehicle crime were concluded:
- A trader in Dublin 12, for advertising and selling a car with an incorrect ownership history and understating the mileage
- A trader in Co. Meath, for asserting that the car had not been previously crashed when he sold it to the consumer
- A trader in Co. Carlow, for acting as a disguised trader and misleading the consumer on the mileage of the car
Compliance Notices
12 Compliance Notices were issued to retailers for the following issues:
- Misleading pricing: 4
- Incorrect returns information: 6
- No link provided to the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform: 2
Three Compliance Notices were issued to car traders on providing false information to consumers in relation to the prior history or usage of a vehicle. Two of the Compliances Notices directed that five consumers receive compensation, which totalled €9,600.
Fixed Payment Notices
17 Fixed Payment Notices were issued to businesses for the following issues:
- The selling price of a product was not indicated: 15
- The selling price of diesel and/or petrol was not indicated: 1
- Information required by legislation before a consumer agrees to a distance contract was not provided: 1
The Consumer Protection List for 2022 can be found on the Consumer Protection List page.
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