The Voice - Consumer's Voice

Dear Consumer’s Voice #1

On 22 August I went into a store to buy, amongst other things, Sunlight Dishwashing Liquid. It was fortunately on special at P15.95 as shown on the shelf. When I got to the till, the Dishwashing liquid was P19.95. I told the cashier that the Liquid was on special, she checked through the advertised specials then said, “No, its actually the green liquid that is on special not this one” (I had a peach-coloured one). I told her that nowhere does it state the colour of the dishwashing liquid that is on special its just stated “Sunlight Dishwashing Liquid 750ml and this is what this is”. As I had just been to church and not in the mood for arguing I left the Dishwashing liquid on the counter?

Is this acceptable?

No, it isn’t.

To begin with it’s what the Consumer Protection Regulations 2001 refers to as a “deceptive act” and an act “of unfair business practice”. Specifically, Section 17 (1) (a) forbids “making false or misleading statements of fact concerning the (…) existence of, or amounts of price reductions”

If the special offer had only referred to green washing up liquid then it should have been made perfectly clear to you when it was advertised. Surely it can’t be too difficult for the store to make it clear that only one type of washing-up liquid is discounted?

I suggest that next time, when you’re not feeling so pious and courteous, if the manager is a Christian, refer them to Psalms 103:6: “The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.”

If that doesn’t work then please allow Consumer Watchdog to do it instead.

Dear Consumer’s Voice #2

[A consumer got in touch asking how many “fools” are out there. He had received the following email.]

To: undisclosed-recipients:

Are you the owner of this email address or do you have authorized access to it in the absence of the owner? If yes, then have every reason to rejoice as the result of the UK online lottery international draws has just been released and guess what? Your email address won in the sweepstakes at the first category and you are entitled to claim the sum of two million, five hundred thousand United States dollars ($2,500,000.00).

Your email address won in the online lottery on this free ticket number: UKL0565A75BZ and lucky number: 0831502. The online email draws was held in United Kingdom on the 25th of August 2010.

To claim your won $2,500,000.00, kindly send your name, contact address and telephone number by email to our Payment Manager:

Ms.Susan G. Wright
Payment Manager
UK Email: susanwgt@terrapins.com

I think you are right to suspect that only a fool would fall for this scam. Let’s put this simply, the clues are obvious. Bad English, an appeal to your criminal tendency (“do you have authorized access to it in the absence of the owner?”), the absence of a personal address (no “Dear Richard”), the silly suggestion that you can win a lottery you never entered. Surely it’s all very obvious?

It’s all ludicrous, unbelievable and an utter scam. I urge all Voice readers, without delay, to send an email to the non-existent “Susan G. Wright” and tell her what you think of scammers like “her”.

Please don’t feel any need to be polite.

Dear Consumer’s Voice #3

Lately last week my friend received an SMS from an anonymous caller named GMX. The SMS read as thus;

"Congratulations your mobile have won US$7.8M for World Bank Int'l Relief Effort Award. To claim contact Mr.D.Arnold via: wbmd01@yahoo.com.hk".

The SMS was resent again on the 25/08/10 and since I had read your column on scams I felt that you were the right people to help her find out if it is a scam or not.

You were right to be suspicious. This is certainly, 100%, without a doubt, a scam.

Organisations like the World Bank, in fact no organisation ever send out SMSs giving people money. Ask yourself this: even if they did, would they use a Hong Kong Yahoo address to contact you?

I suggest you delete the email and don’t think about it again.