National Consumer Agency successfully prosecutes Dublin grocery chain store for failure to display prices.
3 May 2007 - Four days after the National Consumer Agency (NCA) was formally established under the new Consumer Protection Act it successfully prosecuted Cecilia Stores Ltd for breaches of the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002. The NCA as part of its new role took over the functions of the Director of Consumer Affairs.
A total of 77 breaches were identified in the course of four inspections made by an ODCA inspector. These related to failing to display prices or unit prices of a number of grocery items. The offences occurred on 9 August, 30 August, 3 October and 2 November 2006 at the Company's Number 1 Shop in Kevin Street, Dublin 8. Cecilia Stores Ltd. own a number of stores in Dublin, mainly in the Dublin 2 area.
Cecilia Stores had pleaded guilty to all 77 counts. Today, 3 May 2007 Dublin District Court fined the Company €150 in respect of each of 23 counts relating to the November offences, a total of €3,450. Costs of €500 plus VAT were also awarded.
The company was prosecuted twice over the past few years for price display offences at their Kevin Street and College Green premises (September 2004) and Christchurch premises (September 2004 and January 2006).
Welcoming the Court's decision, the acting Chief Executive of the NCA, Ms. Ann Fitzgerald said, "The current price display legislation is in place since 2002 and numerous retail outlets have been prosecuted for failing to display their prices over the past few years by the Director of Consumer Affairs. Despite ongoing monitoring and several prosecutions, retailers continue to exploit consumers by failing to properly display their prices. This is totally unacceptable"
Ms. Fitzgerald explained that the enactment of the new Consumer Protection Act, which came into effect on 1st May, has given new wide-ranging powers to the NCA to protect the interests of consumers. The Agency has a wide remit to develop a better consumer ethos through advocacy, education, research and communication. In addition the NCA has stronger and wider ranging powers to ensure that traders act responsibly towards their customers.
Ms. Fitzgerald said, "It will no longer be acceptable for traders to act in a haphazard manner in their attitude towards price display. Consumers have a right to this information and the new enforcement powers available to the NCA will help to bring about better compliance in the retail sector".
The CEO advised that the new measures include the power to issue fixed payment notices (on the spot fines) in respect of breaches of price display legislation. The Act also provides for the establishment of a new Consumer Protection List to enable the Agency to name and shame traders who breach consumer laws. She added "as acting CEO of the NCA, I will maximise the usage of the various enforcement tools over the coming months to deliver better protection to consumers".