News

Consumer Council receives gas cylinder complaints

January 14, 2019 4:55 pm

The Consumer Council has received 66 complaints amounting to around $2, 000 about gas prices and cylinders.

The complaints over the past five years ranged from selling gas cylinders above the price control order, damaged or defective cylinders, leakage, traders hoarding gas to sell only after price increase comes into effect, not providing receipts to consumers and depriving them of choice.

The Council has discovered traders ask consumers to buy items worth a certain amount in order to purchase gas cylinders.

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In a recent complaint, a consumer from Nadawa, Nasinu bought a 12kg gas at a store and discovered that all the cylinders on sale had no seals.

The trader had used cello tape to seal the cylinders.

When the Council visited the shop, the trader had replaced all gas cylinders without seals and was selling the ones with seals attached.

Another consumer from Davuilevu Housing sought the Council’s assistance in seeking redress after buying 4.5kg gas which lasted only three days.

The trader in this case replaced the gas cylinder with a new refilled one to provide redress.

The Council says with the 4.5kg, 12kg and 13kg gas cylinders being widely used and bought for domestic use, consumers must be aware of and exercise their rights and responsibilities when buying the product.