The Consumer Council of Fiji has initiated an investigation into a mobile electronics retailer in Suva after discovering two significant incidents involving Apple gift card purchases, where customers did not receive the full amount of their orders.
These incidents suggest potential issues with the fulfillment and handling of these transactions, prompting the Council to act swiftly.
In one case, a customer paid FJD $5,000 for Apple gift cards valued at $1,600 USD on June 21, 2024. However, they only received a single gift card worth $500. After making several attempts to retrieve the remaining gift cards valued at $1,100 USD, the customer sought assistance from the Council.
Another case involved a different customer who purchased Apple gift cards for FJD $7,000 on June 14, 2024. Despite assurances of prompt delivery, the buyer faced a lack of communication from the seller, who failed to deliver the cards and did not respond to multiple inquiries.
Seema Shandil, CEO of the Consumer Council, expressed concerns about the scale of these purchases, indicating they could either be isolated events or indicative of a broader issue. “People should be cautious when spending substantial sums on such products,” she stated.
These incidents highlight the necessity for consumers to be vigilant when purchasing expensive gift cards or utilizing mobile repair services. Shandil emphasized the importance of confirming that vendors are authorized retailers to safeguard consumer rights.
During the investigation, the Council could not verify whether the trader is an authorized retailer of Apple products, raising questions about the legitimacy of the gift card sales and other repair services offered by the vendor. Customers are therefore urged to exercise caution when engaging in major transactions, as the Council continues to ensure that consumer rights are protected and to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Consumer Council of Fiji encourages anyone experiencing irregularities or suspicious activities related to scams or frauds to seek assistance by contacting them at complaints@consumersfiji.org or calling the National Toll-Free Helpline at 155.