Consumer Affairs
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Returning unwanted presents
If you have not yet started your Christmas shopping, there isn’t much time left to try to get the best market deals. Shopping for Christmas gifts can be quite stressful, and if you make a wrong buying decision, you may end up wasting hard-earned...
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Phone bought from Italy
Q: While on holiday in Italy I purchased a mobile phone with a commercial guarantee. The phone needs repair as it has developed some faults and is not working properly. Can I take the mobile phone to the brand’s local repair centre? Can I ask the...
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Weekly consumer advice
• Unwanted gifts may not be returned if the right precautions are not taken. • Return policies for unwanted gifts usually have terms and conditions that must be adhered to. • Ideally, terms and conditions of return are written on the receipt. • When...
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How you can get in touch with us
Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority Office for Consumer AffairsMizzi House,National Road,Blata l-BajdaHMR 9010 Freephone: 8007 4400Tel: 2395 2000E-mail: fair.trading@mccaa.org.mt Office hours for the public:Monday to Friday from 8.30am...
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Disclaimer
The information published in this page is intended for information purposes only. Any legal claim or action taken in the event of a dispute should be based solely on the legal texts concerned. For more information, call the Office for Consumer...
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Dealing with door-to-door sellers
When we decide to purchase a product or service from a door-to-door seller, we have specific legal rights that protect us from fraudsters and hasty buying decisions. Before we actually commit ourselves to purchasing an item from a doorstep seller,...
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Stained stainless steel sink
Q: About a year ago, I bought a stainless steel sink. I was abroad for most of the time since the sink was installed, so I did not use it. When I came back and used it, I noticed it had stains and the water did not drain away. When I got in touch...
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Weekly consumer advice
• Before the cooling-off period expires, consumers cannot be asked for a deposit for the goods. • Consumers should be informed about their right to change their mind during the cooling-off period and must also be informed how they can exercise this...
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How you can get in touch with us
Office for Consumer AffairsMizzi House,National Road,Blata l-BajdaHMR 9010 Freephone: 8007 4400Tel: 2395 2000 Office hours for the general public:Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm European Consumer Centre Malta (For complaints against traders in...
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Disclaimer
The information published in this page is intended for information purposes only. Any legal claim or action taken in the event of a dispute should be based solely on the legal texts concerned. For more information, call the Office for Consumer...
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New European forum to get tough on safety of products
Prosafe, which stands for Product Safety Enforcement Forum of Europe, is a non-profit organisation for market surveillance authorities and officers from the European Economic Area. The main objective of Prosafe is to improve the safety of users of...
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Halloween costumes removed from market
Product Safety Officers from the Technical Regulations Division within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority have removed the following Halloween costumes from the market: Mystic Witch Children’s Costume for children aged four to six...
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Laptop breaks on day one
Q: I bought a laptop from a local shop and on the day I purchased it, I inserted an ethernet cable to set it up. However, when I tried to pull out the cable from the laptop, it got stuck. This same cable was used on another laptop and never gave me...
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Learn about consumer rights
An information meeting of the Association for Consumer Rights is being held for members and the public on Wednesday at 6pm at the National Council of Women centre, Pope Pius XII Flats, Mountbatten Street, Blata l-Bajda. The session will be led by...
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Weekly consumer advice
• In cases of latent defects or products not in conformity with the contract of sale, consumers may claim free repair or replacement. • Part or full refund may be claimed when repair or replacement are not possible or, if opted for, may cause a...
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How you can get in touch with us
Office for Consumer AffairsMizzi House,National Road,Blata l-BajdaHMR 9010 Freephone: 8007 4400Tel: 2395 2000 Office hours for the general public:Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm European Consumer Centre Malta (For complaints against traders in...
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Disclaimer
The information published in this page is intended for information purposes only. Any legal claim or action taken in the event of a dispute should be based solely on the legal texts concerned. For more information, call the Office for Consumer...
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Signing agreements and contracts
Very often, it is wrongly assumed that to enter a law-binding contract, one needs to engage a lawyer to draft it and the parties involved have to sign it. In fact, we enter into binding contracts each time we purchase something, and these contracts...
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Invoice excluded VAT
Q: I ordered two doors from a local woodwork company and was given an invoice with a description of the order as well as the total price for each door. The invoice also included the total amount for both doors, the amount of deposit paid, and the...
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Weekly consumer advice
• Verbal agreements are binding, but in case of a dispute it may be difficult to prove what was promised and agreed. • All the important aspects of a sale should be put down in writing. • Before signing a sales contract, we should read and...
