Refund for returned purchases is mandatory

The Law obligates traders to refund the value of goods or services that do not correspond to prescribed or declared requirements upon the consumer’s request. Otherwise, they will receive a fine. MPs voted a draft law in the first reading that stipulates fines from 50 to 100 conventional units (1000 to 2000 lei) for responsible officials and from150 to 200 conventional units (3000 to 4000 lei) for legal entities, Info-Prim Neo reports. The fine system applies if the consumers’ complaints are not solved in 14 days. The same deadline is set for traders to replace a purchased non-alimentary product with a similar one if the consumer does not like its form, color, model, size or the consumer cannot use it for any other reason. The initiative comes from the Ministry of Economy. Other proposed penalties refer to people that produce or sell goods or provide services that infringe the basic safety requirements or that infringe the requirements for the protection of consumers’ interest (information about the composition, destination, origin and quality of products, net weight and volume, expiration date indicated on the package or in the accompanying documentation, etc.). Stipulated penalties for individuals are between 75 and 100 conventional units (1500-2000 lei) and between 400 and 500 units (8000-10000 lei) for legal entities. Penalties will also affect traders or service providers that hinder the activity of inspectors from the Agency for Consumers’ Protection by denying access in rooms or on premises subject to inspection, by refusing to present requested documentation or information. The fine in such cases may reach 300 conventional units (6000 lei). The draft law will come to effect only after it passes in the second reading.