The Municipal Consumer Information Office (OMIC) of the Totana City Council offers today a series of recommendations coinciding with the pandemic, on the occasion of the celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, in which greater protection is advocated. In 1983 the UN instituted World Consumer Rights Day commemorating the words pronounced, on March 15, 1962, by John F.
Kennedy before the Congress of his country.
After the long period of years that have elapsed, his statements continue to be valid, such as that "being a consumer, by definition, includes us all.
We are the largest economic group in the market, which affects and is affected by almost all public economic decisions ...
But it is the only major group whose views are often not heard.
" In Spain, the protection of Consumer Rights had a clear turning point, as they were included in the current Spanish Constitution, specifically within the Guiding Principles of Social and Economic Policy, which gave them a letter of their own nature. The rights of consumers, in general, had their frame of reference with the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users, which has been completed with the current Consolidated Text of the same and other complementary laws. The regional regulations, through the own Statute of Autonomy of the Region of Murcia, also echoes such rights that once developed, through the Statute of Consumers and Users of the Region of Murcia, among which we can highlight: 1.
Protection against risks that may affect your health and safety, conceived it in an integral way, including, therefore, the risks that threaten the environment and the quality of life. 2.
The protection of their legitimate economic and social interests.3.
Information and education on consumer matters. 4.
Representation, through their organizations for the defense of their interests and participation and consultation in matters that affect them. 5.
Legal, administrative and technical protection, repair and compensation for damages suffered. The dramatic effects that the pandemic is having are trying to be minimized through a wide range of measures and legal provisions of which we can highlight, in the field of consumption, the recent Royal Decree-Law 1/2021, of January 19, of protection of consumers and users against situations of social and economic vulnerability.
From this standard it should be noted that: - The concept of consumer and user and of vulnerable consumer is improved by defining who has this consideration "with respect to specific consumer relationships, those individuals who, individually or collectively, due to their characteristics, needs or personal, economic circumstances, educational or social, they find themselves, even territorially, sectorally or temporarily, in a special situation of subordination, defenselessness or lack of protection that prevents them from exercising their rights as consumers under conditions of equality ”. - Vulnerable consumers will also have special attention in the areas of information, training and education. - Likewise, they have seen an improvement in the aspect related to the labeling and presentation of goods and services, in terms of: producer details, quality, quantity and category, date of production or supply and batch, and instructions for their use, management of waste and foreseeable risks. - Likewise, the group will see improved in relation to business practices of entrepreneurs in relation to "...
any act, omission, conduct, manifestation or commercial communication, including advertising and marketing, directly related to the promotion, sale or the supply of goods or services, including real estate….
”. - Regarding the commercial offer, it must be presented "in clear, understandable, truthful terms and in an easily accessible format, in such a way that they ensure its adequate understanding and allow optimal decision-making for their interests". - Before the consumer and user is bound by a contract and corresponding offer, the entrepreneur must provide them in a clear and understandable way, unless it is manifest by the context, relevant, truthful and sufficient information on the main characteristics of the contract, in particular about their legal and economic conditions.
