A mobile electronics retailer in Suva is currently under investigation by the Consumer Council of Fiji following reports of two significant purchases of Apple gift cards where customers did not receive the full value of their orders. These incidents raise concerns about the transaction handling and delivery processes, prompting an urgent inquiry by the Council.
In the first case, a customer sought to buy Apple gift cards and paid FJD$5000 for cards valued at USD$1600 on June 21, 2024. However, the buyer received only one gift card worth USD$500. Despite multiple requests for the remaining cards valued at USD$1100, the buyer did not receive them and turned to the Council for help.
In a second incident, another customer purchased Apple gift cards totaling FJD$7000 on June 14, 2024. This purchaser was assured of quick delivery following payment but faced ongoing difficulties in contacting the seller, including call diversions and unanswered inquiries, resulting in no delivery of the cards.
“These could be isolated incidents or indicative of a larger issue. The amounts involved are particularly concerning,” remarked Council chief executive Seema Shandil. She emphasized the importance of consumer caution when spending significant sums on such items.
Shandil highlighted that these cases underline the necessity for consumers to ensure accountability when purchasing high-value gift cards or using mobile repair services. “It’s vital to verify that vendors are authorized retailers to safeguard consumer rights,” she added.
The investigation by the Council has not yet determined if the retailer is an authorized dealer, as they have not provided evidence of being an authorized Apple product retailer, raising questions about the legitimacy of their gift card sales and other services.
While the Council works to protect consumer rights and prevent similar issues in the future, consumers are also urged to remain vigilant during large transactions. The Council encourages individuals to report any discrepancies or suspicious activities related to scams or frauds to their office for immediate assistance at complaints@consumersfiji.org or by calling the National Toll-Free Helpline at 155.