Businesses 'named and shamed' over price display

Tesco was one of seven businesses named today as having been convicted for failing to properly display prices, as required by…

Tesco was one of seven businesses named today as having been convicted for failing to properly display prices, as required by law.

The supermarket's outlet at Dundrum, south Dublin, was fined €1,500 and ordered to pay €2,000 costs for failing to show the price of products.

Ann Fitzgerald, chief executive of the National Consumer Agency (NCA), said she was publicly revealing offenders as a warning to other businesses.

“Publishing details recorded in the Consumer Protection List will send a message to traders that if they fail to comply with consumer legislation, enforcement actions will be taken by the Agency,” she said.

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Other stores fined included: the Number 1 shop on Kevin Street, Dublin (€3,950 fine plus costs); Power’s Londis supermarket in Edenmore Shopping Centre, Dublin 5, (€1,300) and Gala on Main Street, Oughterard, Galway (€2,050).

Pickardstown service station and Tramore service station, Tramore, Co Waterford (€3,900), were also fined for failing to display the price of products.

Two licensed premises were also convicted for similar offences: McDonnells of Main Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare and the Westgrove Hotel and Conference Centre, Abbeylands, Clane, Co Kildare.

Two car dealers - Arch Motors, Westside, Galway and Orange Motors, Keane Street, Killalee, Limerick - were both exposed for selling so-called clocked cars where the mileage on the odometers were altered.

Allied Irish Windscreens, on Crumlin Road, Dublin, was admonished for advertising its windscreen repair service as free, when the offer applied only to customers whose insurance would cover the cost of the replacement.

David Lam, of Williamson Place, Dundalk, Co Louth was found to have wrongfully advertised his treated water ‘Kangan’ as being able to cure an illness when it couldn’t.

Ms Fitzgerald said the NCA intends to publish its 'name and shame' list twice every year.

“To avoid intervention by the agency, businesses should make sure that they are complying with all consumer laws,” she said.

PA