Emphasis in consumer rights protection should be laid on law enforcement

“The legislation enables to protect the rights of the consumers. We also have a relevant strategy covering the period until 2012. The problem resides in the implementation of the law and in the interaction between the inspection bodies,” Deputy Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac said in a conference held as part of the Consumer Information Week. The Ministry of Economy intends to reorganize the State Main Inspectorate for Market Surveillance, Metrology and Consumer Protection. “We plan to outfit the Inspectorate with the necessary equipment and technology and establish cooperation between it and other state institutions that protect the rights of the consumers so that all the consumers feel they are protected by the state,” Octavian Calmac said, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. As to the consumers of financial-banking services, Calmac said that during the negotiations on the Association Agreement with the EU, Moldova pledged to improve the law on consumer protection. In this connection, the head of the Consumer Protection Center Denis Starus said that the consumers of financial-banking services often do not know the legislation, the regulations of the National Bank and do not attentively read the clauses of the agreements they sign with the banks. On the other hand, the banks do not inform the customers, including about the new financial products. Denis Starus also said that the Consumer Protection Center received many complaints regarding the violation of consumers' rights by banks. The protection of the rights of the consumers is a difficult procedure as results can be achieved only through court. The Ministry of Economy is holding the Consumer Information Week themed “Our Money, Our Rights” during March 15-19.