Consumers pay money, have a choice

2010 marks the 50th annual World Consumer Rights Day. During the past five decades, Vietnam, like other countries, has made every effort to establish a secure commodity market offering a variety of financial services and goods for consumers.

However, a number of businesses have also done harm to consumer rights and health by providing poor services and low-quality goods.

Under this year’s motto Our Money, Our Rights, consumers are encouraged to have a full access to financial services such as banking, credits, insurance and non-cash payment, and update their knowledge of how to distinguish between authentic and fake goods to ensure they get their money’s worth.

“We often buy quality products at reasonable prices, and businesses must place a high priority on product quality,” says Vu Thu Uyen, a Hanoi resident. “Businesses and sellers must win consumer trust.”

However, consumers sometimes do not feel at ease using financial services as they are in their infancy in Vietnam. There is growing concern about the use of ATM cards, especially during national holidays.

Vietnam has approximately 16 million ATM cardholders, but many complain that they accidentally lose money in their accounts, pay withdrawal fees or cannot take the card out of the machine. Some ATMs fail to release cash as a result of overload. This means banks have not offered good services and that consumers are uneducated on these services.

Although relevant agencies and consumer rights protection associations have equipped consumers with the necessary knowledge of financial services, this method proves inefficient. This requires the designated agencies, businesses and consumers to work closer together to perfect the services.

Bach Van Mung, head of the Competition Management Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, says protecting consumer rights requires joint efforts from the whole community.

“Consumers must be more aware of how to use services and buy goods. The Law on Protecting Consumer Rights, to be issued by the National Assembly this year, will create a firm legal foundation for dealing with violations and protecting consumers,” says Mr Mung.

Nguyen Hong Bao, deputy head of Hanoi’s Market Management Department, says consumer rights are affected by the circulation of fake goods. He quotes statistics saying last year relevant municipal agencies dealt with more than 23,000 violations of regulations on intellectual property rights or the circulation of contraband and fake goods. They reclaimed more than VND350 billion in taxes and destroyed VND9 billion in goods that were in violation.

The fact is that when consumers buy fake goods, they do not know who to make complaints to and they sometimes do not feel confident enough to protect themselves. This requires them to unite to protect their rights. There is no reasons why they should have to use bad quality products while they have money in hand.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam has launched a campaign: Vietnamese use Vietnamese goods. Consumers are encouraged to buy quality products and boycott fake goods to make the living and business environment healthy.

Tags: Vietnam consumers