The Consumer Council of Fiji has initiated an investigation into a mobile electronics store in Suva after uncovering two significant cases concerning the purchase of Apple gift cards, where customers did not receive the full value of their orders.
These cases indicate potential issues in the handling and processing of such transactions, prompting the Council to take immediate action.
In the first incident, a customer intended to purchase Apple gift cards and paid FJD $5,000 for an order worth $1,600 USD. On June 21, 2024, the customer only received a $500 gift card. After several unsuccessful attempts to obtain the remaining gift cards valued at $1,100 USD, the buyer sought assistance from the Council.
In another case on June 14, 2024, a different customer bought Apple gift cards for FJD $7,000. Although they were promised swift delivery, the cards were never sent, leading to numerous unanswered calls and frustration.
These incidents may either be isolated cases or indicate a broader problem. According to Seema Shandil, CEO of the Consumer Council, “People ought to exercise caution when investing such substantial sums of money on such products.”
These events underscore the necessity for consumers to be vigilant and careful when purchasing costly gift cards or engaging mobile repair services. Shandil emphasized the importance of verifying that vendors are authorized retailers to safeguard consumer rights.
The investigation revealed that the retailer has not provided proof of being an authorized dealer of Apple products, raising concerns about the legitimacy of their gift card sales and other repair offerings. Customers are urged to exercise caution during significant transactions as the Council works to ensure consumer rights are protected and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
For any suspicious activities or scams, consumers are encouraged to reach out to the Consumer Council of Fiji at complaints@consumersfiji.org or call the National Toll-Free Helpline at 155 for prompt assistance.