Consumers are being encouraged to check the price of their shopping at the till after the Office of Fair Trading identified a number of issues during recent inspections.
Trading Standards staff inspected 31 food retailers across the Island to ensure customers were charged the prices advertised and that special offers were honoured.
More than half were issued with advisory enforcement notices for issues such as prices paid differing from those displayed and expired promotions still advertised.
Around a third of the premises have been re-inspected and all but two had made the necessary changes. Tim Glover MHK, Chairman of the OFT, said: “It is disappointing that so many problems were identified, and our team will continue visits. However, it isn’t possible to monitor all retailers at all times, so it’s important that the public contact the OFT when they encounter pricing errors.”
“Shops are not legally required to sell goods at an incorrect price due to genuine mistakes. However, misleading price indications are an offence. The OFT works with retailers to prevent this, with enforcement action for repeat offenders,” Mr Glover added.
Shoppers can report incorrect or misleading prices by calling 686500 or emailing general.fairtrading@gov.im.
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