2011 Annual Report - The Commerce Commission

Table 2: Cases Successfully Disposed Of in 2011(cont…)Cases Resolved in 2011Case Number Case Name Issues Part of CCD 2010 ProvisionsBreached2011/12/06/BC-FTD/2972011/12/12/BC-FTD/301Consumer Rvs. Company XConsumer Svs. Company YOn 06-12-11, the Commission received a complaint from Consumer R regardingan advertised promotion by Company X which allowed subscribers to makeunlimited calls for $1.45 for 24 hours. The Complainant informed the Commissionthat Company X advertised in the local daily on 18 November 2011 and 2December 2011 regarding the subscription to unlimited calls for $1.45 for 24 hours.The Complainant subscribed on 05-12-11 for the unlimited calls for a day and wascorrectly charged. On 06-12-11, $1.45 was deducted from the Complainant’saccount without him subscribing for it. Once the complaint was received, theCommission formally wrote to Company X, informing them of the issue andseeking a response. The Commission received a response from Company X,stating the following; The Day Pass for 05-12-11 expired and an automatedmessage was sent to the Complainant advising him that, “Your 24 hour Day Passhas expired. Simply text PASS to 9999 for another 24 hours of free on-net calls”.On 06-12-11, $1.45 was not deducted for another Day Pass but three times thesum of $0.50 was deducted as the Complainant had subscribed to a differentservice, Textmate, by sending an SMS to a shortcode 4636; once on December 5and twice on December 6. The above was conveyed to the Complainant and thecase was closed.On 12-12-11, the Commission received a complaint from Consumer Sagainst Company Y regarding the increase in the price of gas cylinders inthe Nadroga/Navosa Province. The Complainant informed the Commissionthat the price of 12kg gas cylinder ranges from $49.00 to $53.00 in theNadroga/Navosa Province and consumers are being charged on thesedifferent rates within the same vicinity. The Commission after making itsassessment and analysis on the matter formally wrote to the Complainant,informing him that LPG is not under Price Control and firms were free to settheir own prices. The Commission further notified the complainant that wewere currently monitoring the marketConsumerProtection &Unfair Practices.Section 76No Breach of Commerce CommissionDecree 2010Page128of236