The amount recovered in favor of consumers in complaints closed with a refund amounts to US$808 thousand.

The head of the DC, Ricardo Salazar, also confirmed that the institution assisted 9,071 consumers who sought support to defend their rights against abuses committed by some suppliers.

Salazar detailed that "73.8% of the advisories or claims were concentrated in the financial, household appliances, household goods and telecommunications and electric energy services sectors".

In another order, the head of the Defensoría del Consumidor referred to the New Year's Eve Plan, which was executed throughout december, and detailed that 358 inspections were carried out in shopping centers, restaurants, warehouses, supermarkets and markets, among other establishments.

Of these inspections, 91.90% registered compliance with the legal provisions verified, while in 8.10% administrative procedures were activated before the Sanctioning Court for various infractions to the Ley de Protección al Consumidor (LPC), he explained.

Finally, he detailed that, during the last month of 2022, the inspection teams detected 236 expired food products, among which he mentioned: bread, cookies, candies, flavorings and spices, snacks and carbonated beverages.

Having expired products for sale is a very serious infraction to the Ley de Protección al Consumidor, which can be sanctioned with a fine of up to 500 minimum wages, concluded the head of the DC.

Translated by: A.M