One mom shares why it's important to know your consumer rights

During the holiday season, stores everywhere offer year-end sales or discounts. All too often, these sales can be misleading, or even just plain untrue. That's why it's important for moms to keep their wits about them. Know your consumer rights so that you can avoid being misled or even tricked by some stores.

Below is the story of one mom who used her knowledge of consumer rights in order to protect herself from misleading price tags.

It's important for moms and dads to know their consumer rights

Mom Kaye Sy-Catral recently shared her experience on Facebook when she tried to purchase a few pairs of shorts that were on sale. She saw that the shorts cost only 200 pesos each, which were a great deal, so she decided to get four pairs for a total of 800 pesos.

However, upon getting to the cashier, she was surprised to find that she was being charged a total of 900 pesos for her purchase instead of the 800 that she thought it cost.

She took to social media to say, "She (the cashier) tells me one pair is actually P300 and they probably tagged it wrong. She proceeds to take out the wrong tag. I tell her to stop. By the price tag law, you have to grant the price posted on the item."

"She gives me the taray-est stare, and says '300 po talaga.' So I asked for them to check the rack, all other shorts of the same design are marked the same. I was right. Still, she refused."

Eventually, she asked for the manager who acknowledged the store's error and gave her the correct pricing for her purchase.

She went on to say, "My point here is we need to know our rights as consumers. I've had enough of people charging me the wrong price, not giving change, and fooling us with sale tags."

Knowing what rights you have as a consumer can protect you from misleading information or from deceptive sales practices that some stores engage in.

What are your rights as a consumer?

Republic Act No. 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines was created in order to " protect the interests of the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry."

This law aims to protect consumers not only from deceptive sales practices but also to establish a code of conduct that businesses and other industries should abide by.

Here are the eight basic consumer rights in the Philippines:

1. Right to basic needs. This guarantees survival, adequate food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education and sanitation.
2. Right to safety. Consumers need to be protected against the marketing of goods that can potentially cause harm.
3. Right to information. Consumers need to be protected against misleading, dishonest advertising, and false labelling.
4. Right to choose. This means that consumers should be able to choose from a wide range of products available on the market.
5. Right to representation. This is the right to express consumer interests in the making and execution of government policies.
6. Right to redress. Consumers have the right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods, or anything similar.
7. Right to consumer education. This is the right of consumers to be informed and to have knowledge about their rights.
8. Right to a healthy environment. This is the right to live and work in an environment which is neither threatening nor dangerous and which permits a life of dignity and well-being.

Check this link to learn more about the consumer act of the Philippines.

Photos screen capped from Facebook.com

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