Consumer Affairs
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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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Hiring a trader for a service: your rights and responsibilities
As consumers we sometimes need to hire a trader to perform a job for us, such as when we need someone to fix a broken appliance or to carry out some works at our house, like plumbing, plastering or tile laying. Before engaging someone to perform a...
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Public warning statement
Josephine Borg, director general (Consumer Affairs) has issued a public statement in accordance with Article 8 of the Consumer Affairs Act (Cap.378), in which she has identified that Charles Agius, holder of Identity Card number 21469 (M), has not...
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Weekly consumer advice - September 2, 2018
▪ It is our responsibility to gather as much information as possible on the service that we require and on who will be providing it. ▪ Consumers must make sure that they have the trader’s full contact details, including a postal address, before...
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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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The cooling-off rule
Many consumers have misconceptions about their legal rights and therefore are not always aware of what type of remedy they may claim when they have problems with products purchased. A common misconception concerns the right to cancel a sale and...
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Public warning statement
Josephine Borg, director general (Consumer Affairs) within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority, has issued a public warning statement in accordance with article 8 of the Consumer Affairs Act (Cap.378 of the Laws of Malta), in...
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Weekly consumer advice - August 26, 2018
▪ Once a contract of sale is concluded it is legally binding and consumers do not have the right to change their mind and ask for a refund of the money paid. ▪ The right to cancel a sale only applies when goods or services are either bought...
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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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Received a gift voucher? Your rights and responsibilities
When we receive a voucher as a gift, the first thing we should look out for is the expiry date. While some vouchers do not expire, most have a use-by date. We should make sure that we make use of such vouchers before they expire. If we think we...
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Director general issues public statement
Director general (Consumer Affairs) Josephine Borg has issued a public statement in accordance with Article 8 of the Consumer Affairs Act (Cap. 378), by means of which she identifies and gives information to the public that Peter Farrugia, holder...
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Faulty air conditioner – can I ask for a free repair?
Q: I have purchased an air conditioner that is covered by a three-year warranty on the indoor unit and a six-year warranty on the compressor. The six-year warranty will expire in a few weeks’ time. Lately it stopped working and I reported the...
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Refunds and credit notes
Consumers should remember that when goods they purchase turn out to be faulty and cannot be repaired or replaced with similar goods by the seller, they are entitled to a refund of the money paid for the faulty goods. In such situations, consumers...
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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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Pricing of goods: shop around for best deals
Traders are free to set prices of products or services they offer for sale. This means that on the market consumers may find the same products or services offered at different prices. So, it is our responsibility to shop around and compare prices...
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Solar panels query
Q: I recently attended one of the local trade fairs with my fiancée as we needed to buy a solar panel system for our house. Soon after we arrived at the fair we were approached by a representative of a company that sells solar panels to explain...
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Weekly consumer advice - August 12, 2018
▪ The consumer must shop around and compare prices to make sure that they get the best value for their money. ▪ Traders are legally obliged to clearly indicate with a price the products offered for sale. ▪ Appropriate price indication ensures that...
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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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Stronger EU protection rules for travellers
From July 1 new EU rules have come into force to provide better legal protection for travellers who either purchase pre-arranged package holidays or self customised packages. The new regulations have broadened the concept of what constitutes a...
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Main bedroom problems
Q: I ordered a new main bedroom from a local supplier and specifically requested a wall-to-wall wardrobe. However, the supplier advised me that since the wardrobe would be made from solid wood it could not be manufactured wall to wall. Hence, I...
