In the first half of 2015, the authority received most complaints regarding consumer goods (1,251), healthcare, private education and paid services (319), consumers also complained due to poor quality leisure services (274). Many complaints were also related to low quality footwear and clothing (548). Since the beginning of the year the authority analysed and replied to 2,200 consumer complaints. Nearly 1,400 of them were analysed using out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms.
"The growing number of complaints and inquiries over possible violations of consumer rights clearly shows that people now have an increasingly better knowledge of consumer rights and are ready to defend them. The situation was influenced by the fact that specialists of VVTAT began operating in the regions this year, thus it was easier for people to defend their rights ()," said Justice Minister Juozas Bernatonis.
According to the Ministry of Justice, more and more consumers are attracted by low prices and purchase without taking interest in the reliability of sellers. This is often the case when buying via social networks, when people transfer money to private accounts of natural persons without having any information about sellers. Afterwards goods are not sent and profiles on social networks are deleted whereas consumers are left without money and without goods, while the only available proof of a transaction is a bank statement. When dealing with such issues VVTAT cooperates with other institutions and takes every measure to defend consumer rights and find sellers.
