DED’s New Fines, Policy a Safety Net for Online Buyers
DUBAI: Pinoys, who are avid online shoppers, hailed the Department of Economic De-velopment’s (DED) new fines and penalties for shady sellers on the Internet, saying it gives them assurance they would be getting what they have paid for.
“As an online shopper, I find this very comforting since a lot of products online appear to be very different when it is delivered to you. Sometimes it is just the substandard version of the one you were aiming for and since you bought it online, returning the product is very tedious on the buyer’s part,” Irish Razonable, an HR manager, said.
“Having this new policy will make the sellers think twice before gypping their shoppers,” she said.
The DED has recently set stern measures against online sellers who do not have a license and those who deliver fake or below-standard products in the UAE.
According to Mohammed Lootah, DED deputy executive director for consumer protection and trade control, people selling products via social media platforms such as Face-book, Twitter and Instagram could be fined Dh25,000 and have their websites closed if proven that they are not authorized dealers and that they sell flawed items.
Lootah said people buying from local websites or social networks can report any case of fraud to the DED.
He also suggested that consumers take extra precaution by verifying the website and reading feedback and reviews before making transactions.
Lootah also said the department had deployed a secret team of “buyers” that comb through websites and social media accounts to check their operations.