​
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has announced the two-week administrative closure of a furniture store, located on Salwa Road for charging consumers prices contrary to advertised.
 
The shop had been advertising through local newspapers the sale of furniture at wholesale prices whereas, in reality, it was misleading consumers through a fraudulent announcement as the advertised prices were higher than true prices registered on the store’s computer.
 
The inspection campaign comes within the framework of the ministry’s Ramadan initiatives under the theme #Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb,” the Arabic for “#the_least_we_can_do.” The ministry has intensified its campaigns ahead and throughout the holy month of Ramadan in a bid to monitor markets and commercial activity in order to crack down on price manipulation and protect consumer rights.
 
Inspectors from the ministry fined the store and compelled its closure for a two-week period in line with article (6) of law number (8) of 2008. The law prohibits the sale, display and promotion of counterfeit and fraudulent products. A product is considered fraudulent if it fails to meet standards or has expired.
 
The administrative closure is published on the ministry’s website as well as two daily newspapers at the offending store’s own expense in line with article (3) of law no (8) on consumer protection.

The ministry stated that it is determined to protect consumer rights and will intensify its inspection campaigns to crack down on all violations of the consumer protection law. The ministry said it will refer violators of laws and ministerial decrees to the competent authorities, who will take appropriate action against perpetrators in order to protect the rights of consumers.
 
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce urges all consumers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud department and to send complaints and suggestions through the following communication channels:
 
– Call center: 16001
– Email: info@mec.gov.qa
– The accounts of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on social media networks
– Twitter MEC_QATAR
– Instagram MEC_QATAR
-The applications of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce on smart phones available on iPhone and Android devices MEC_QATAR