Soco (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
LOCAL businessmen are encouraged to always practice fair trade and abide by the “No Shortchanging Law.”
Glenn Soco, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president, made this call after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that they had penalized since June this year seven establishments in Metro Cebu for not giving the exact change to customers.
“We support that policy. Businessmen need to follow fair business. They should not abuse the customers especially in this season when it is expected that there will be a surge in consumerism,” Soco said.
“It would even be beneficial to them if they abide by that law because the customers will be happy and that’s a way of keeping customer loyalty,” he said.
Soco warned that members whose businesses that would be found out to be shortchanging customers or doing unscrupulous business practices would face sanctions in the MCCI, which could led to their removal from the group’s roster of membership.
Aside from that, Soco also encouraged customers to report establishments implementing unfair business practices so that disciplinary actions would be imposed on them.
“Report to us, or report to DTI. We are always for fair business, and we do not tolerate any unscrupulous practice with any of our members,” Soco said.
Gladys Oro, DTI-7 development specialist, earlier reminded businesses to give the exact change to customers and not to practice giving candies as change to customers.
Customers could file their complaint with documentary evidence such as the sales invoice within 10 days after the transaction, Oro said.
First time violators will be fined P500 or three percent of the gross sale for the day, whichever is higher, a P5,000 fine or five percent of the gross sales for the second offense, a P15,000 fine or seven percent of the gross sales in the third offense and a P25,000 fine or 10 percent of the gross sales and revocation of the license to operate for the fourth offense.