What one should do if a purchase made online is defective or does not match the description of the seller? The person can first of all ask the seller to replace the product or to return the money either this is a virtual shop or the purchase was made through a social networking site. If an agreement is not reached, the person can notify the National Agency for Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance.
Contacted by IPN, inspector of the Agency Nicolae Olărașu said the sales through social networking sites form part of the category of electronic trading. The website should contain a number of elements for identifying the legal entity, such as the legal address, email address, contact telephone number, fiscal code, complete description of the products, etc. If these elements are absent, the website should be treated with suspicion as to the reliability of the seller. “Facebook is used rather to sell own products. It is one thing when one or two products are sold and it is another thing when 70 products are sold. This is definitely illegal trading,” stated the inspector.
If the person bought a product and its noncompliance was discovered only at home, the buyer can submit a complaint to the business entity, which has 14 calendar days to settle the dispute. If the economic entity does nothing, the person can file a requisition to the National Agency for Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance. If the person does not have a sales slip or another document that confirms the purchase of the product, this can attach other proofs to the requisition, such as a recording of the phone conversation with the seller, discussions on the Messenger or through SMSes.
Nicolae Olărașu noted the requisition must be examined within 30 days, but the problem is usually solved amicably during several days. If the Agency’s specialists identify the legal name of the seller in the official register, the case is remitted to the police as it is a case of illegal trading. The vulnerable elderly people most often become victims of illegal trading as they believe in the miraculous curative or beautifying effects of particular products.
In a response provided to IPN Agency, the National Investigations Inspectorate said they received no complaints about unauthorized trading through Facebook or other social networking sites so far this year. The Inspectorate’s Center for Combating Cybercrimes is ready to provide procedural support within its powers in investigations if the competent bodies with protection duties make such a request.
