Consumer watchdog swoops unannounced on shops to ensure they are displaying prices properly
It said its series of unannounced inspections targeted multiple retail businesses, to ensure the outlets were complying with consumer laws, particularly around prices being displayed.
The retail sectors targeted include clothing, beauty, furniture, groceries and hospitality.
The CCPC said 22 inspections had been carried out throughout Co Dublin, including in Swords, Dundrum and Tallaght. There was one in Leixlip, Co Kildare, and eight in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
In the Northwest, 12 inspections were carried across Co Donegal including in Letterkenny, Bundoran and Donegal town. A further 12 inspections completed throughout Co Sligo.
The competition body said the inspections formed part of the CCPC's ongoing work to monitor compliance with consumer protection laws and ensure fair trading practices across Ireland.
It said: 'The law sets out how traders must display prices and covers the selling price, unit price and reduced prices.'
CCPC said its officers identified several breaches of consumer protection law, including inadequate or inaccurate price displays on items for sale.
Inspections were also carried out across the retail motor fuel sector, including at leading service stations, identifying several breaches of the price display rules as set out in the Retail Prices (Diesel and Petrol) Display Order, 1997.
CCPC member Patrick Kenny said: 'CCPC enforcement officers use our national helpline data to spot patterns of consumer harm and traders who might merit investigation. We carry out unannounced inspections and if we find traders breaking the law, we can issue fines and take prosecutions.'
Mr Kenny said consumers needed to see prices up front in order to make informed choices.
'If our enforcement officers find breaches of consumer protection law, we will act.'
Traders were selected based on location and sector and, in some cases, following consumer complaints to the CCPC consumer helpline.
Complaints are a valuable source of information to the CCPC because they help identify sectors where consumers may be at risk.
Last year more than 44,000 consumers contacted the helpline, 5,000 more than in 2023.
The CCPC is calling for more substantial penalties for companies that breach consumer protection law.
In March of this year, Lifestyle Sports (Ireland), DID Electrical Appliances and Rath-Wood Home & Garden World pled guilty to breaking sales pricing legislation and were ordered to donate €1,000 each to charity.
Changes to the law are needed to give the CCPC the power to impose large fines for serious offences – for example, fines that are a percentage of a business's turnover.
Consumers who suspect a trader has breached consumer law are encouraged to report their concerns to the CCPC by phoning the National Consumer Helpline on 01 402 5555 or emailing ask@ccpc.ie.
The CCPC was recently asked by the Government to update a high-level analysis of the Irish grocery retail sector, which it completed in June 2023.
The competition watchdog has been urged to investigate how profitable supermarkets are here and if there are barriers stopping new retail chains entering the market.
Minister of State for Retail Alan Dillon wants the CCPC to find out whether there are obstacles stopping the retail giants such as Britain's Asda or France's Carrefour setting up in this country.
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