The Consumer Protection Foundation (YLPK) Bali has apparently been getting hundreds of complaints this year about fraudulent behavior in a number of stores, especially in minimarkets.
YLPK says it has received complaints that consumers notice the amount of some items on their receipts don’t match what’s listed on the price tags. (Excuse us while we go check everything we bought earlier at Indomaret, Circle K, and the local warung.)
“We have received many complaints from the public related to fraud, hundreds. They complain because the price of merchandise that is labeled on the shelf is different from the price shown on the receipt,” YLPK Bali director Putu Armya said on Thursday, as quoted by Bali Post.
For example, a loaf of bread could be labeled on the shelf as Rp 11,000, but when you buy it, the cashier rings it up as Rp 12,500. Doesn’t sound like much, but it does add up after awhile and Armya says this is a form of fraud.
And how do the minimarkets deal with the awkwardness when people actually notice they are getting charged something different than what’s listed? “When consumers complain, the minimarket will say the prices have not been updated,” Armya said.
Armya would not specify to Bali Post just exactly how many violations have occurred but he insists there are hundreds of complaints.
Fraudulent scams like this can be criminalized with offenders getting five years prison and a fine of Rp 2 billion, according to Bali Post’s report.
According to Armya, many of the complaints lodged to YLPK have come from Badung, particularly in Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Tuban, and Kerobokan.
Photo: Flickr
