Nabilah Safira
TechInPacific – Fijians regular shoppers have become vulnerable to unsolicited transaction fees after recent complaints emerged as revealed by The Consumer Council of Fiji.
The fee is charged by a merchant when the shopper paid with a local debit card or access cards using the EFTPOS machines.
The Chief Executive Officer of The Consumer Council of Fiji, Seema Shandil has warned merchants to avoid the practice.
“There is no surcharge that is supposed to be there, the merchants should not impose any charges to consumers for the use of their debit card.”
She further tells that although the merchant who was caught has returned the money, she deeply discourages the future practice of the matter.
Awareness of the potential issue has been brought in news media, but shoppers’ discretion is also advised.
Rakesh Ram from the Association of Banks Chair said that shoppers should not hesitate to report in a case similar circumstance arise.
Checking receipts twice certainly is a good preventive action to proceed with safe shopping in physical stores.
Source: Fbcnews.com.fj
