The national public association “Consumer Protection” on December 19 celebrated the 15th anniversary of its foundation. The association’s president Piotr Guțul said in the period he ascertained that the consumer rights in the Republic of Moldova are not protected, while the people do not have possibilities of seeking justice.

In a news conference at IPN, Piotr Guțul said that during 15 years they investigated and reported dozens of irregularities concerning the violation of consumers’ rights, helping a total of over 300,000 people. The first case was investigated in January 2003 and referred to the illegal connection to a source of electricity. Members of the association received then an official response from the vice director of the National Agency for Energy Regulation and this was then dismissed.

Piotr Guțul also referred to a flagrant case of violation of consumer rights. A decision was taken in 2017 to allocate 20 million lei for extensively repairing an apartment building in Chisinau. The City Hall asked a housing sector manager to confirm by signature that the works were done, even if they weren’t and the dwellers of that house didn’t even know that those money was to be transferred. The association “Consumer Protection” informed the prosecution bodies, but legal action wasn’t taken.

According to Piotr Guțul, the most serious offenses against consumers are committed by the municipal enterprises when they indicate so-called losses or water or heat in bills and the people have to pay for what they do not consumer. The heat supplier should install heat meters in each apartment at its own expense and the citizens should pay for real consumption only.

In another development, the head of the national public association “Consumer Protection” announced he decided he will hold the post of president for one more year. It hasn’t been yet decided who will replace him.