The Consumer Council handled a total number of 2,295 cases in the first half of 2019, the total number of cases has dropped by 15 percent year-on-year, whereas the 1,323 complaint cases recorded this time has raised by 40 percent year-on-year.

Complaints and inquiries from tourists amounted to 515 cases, about 22 percent of the total number, the 446 complaint cases recorded this year has raised by 7 percent year-on-year.

The top 5 categories are personal care products and services (112 cases), public transportation (105 cases), clothing & apparel (104 cases), jewellery (87 cases), and food and beverage (85 cases), these categories amounted to about 37 percent of the total complaint cases (493 cases) received in the first half of 2019.

Over 50 cases involved beauty treatment services

Personal care products and services is the most complained category in the first half of year, about half of the cases are related to beauty treatments and all cases were lodged by local citizens. The main issues are selling practices and service quality of the businesses, some of the cases have been settled after mediation by the Consumer Council.

Consumers are reminded to consider personal needs, financial ability, and to know more about the operation and service quality of beauty centres if they are going to purchase any beauty treatment plans, it is advised not to spend more than planned due to promotional discounts and not to spend great amount of money or sign any contract right away at the premises.

For public transportation, an increase of 23 percent is recorded in complaint cases in which 69 cases are related to disputes about overcharging, and complaints from tourists amounted to 53 cases.

For cases about clothing and apparel, 70 percent of the cases are related to disputes over product quality and most cases were filed due to insufficient evidence for follow-up.

Tourists’ complaints on jewellery dropped

The number of complaint cases on jewellery has dropped by 13 percent year-on-year, and about 75 percent were lodged by tourists.

The Council has prepared shopping tips for mainland tourists to let them know about the operations of local gold market, and to enhance their awareness on self-protection to avoid dispute.

The number of complaint cases recorded under food & beverage has increased by over 60 percent, cases involved disputes over hygienic condition and prices, and referral of cases has been made by the Council and sent to enforcing departments.

Other categories that recorded significant increase in the number of complaint cases included the quality and prices of electrical appliances, watches and vehicles, as well as issues on the prices of fuel.

Advices to consumers

Due to the rapid development of the consumer market and modes of transaction, the Consumer Council pays close attention to the causes of consumer disputes and make suggestions to businesses, cases are referred to the enforcing departments when necessary, and “consumer tips” are prepared for consumers as a reminder to possible consumption traps and to safeguard consumer rights.

A detailed report on the number of cases received in the first half of 2019 will be published in Consumer Report later.