102 thousand calls were received to Alo 175 in three months: Here are the issues that consumers complain about the most

According to information obtained from the Ministry, the line in question serves as a “call center” where solutions to consumers’ problems are offered and these problems are forwarded to the relevant authorities. Those who call the line can also get information about products that pose a risk to human health, life and property safety.

While 333 thousand 438 applications came to this line in 2022, this number increased to 385 thousand 682 last year. In the first quarter of this year, consumers made 102 thousand 319 applications.

When the applications in the first quarter were evaluated, it was noteworthy that consumers mostly complained about defective goods and services. This topic constituted 45.6 percent (46 thousand 696) of the applications received during this period. The second issue that consumers complained about the most was distance contracts with 19 thousand 381 (18.9 percent).

The Ministry continues its inspection work

The Ministry of Commerce continues its inspection activities by taking into account the changes in market conditions, general characteristics of the sector, changes in consumption habits and complaints received from consumers.

For the protection of consumers, the Ministry pays attention to the issues of deceptive and misleading advertisements, market surveillance and control, inspection of contracts to which consumers are parties, price difference between the label and the cash register, and in order to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of the legislation on the protection of consumers, subscription agreements, banking services, especially distance contracts. carries out audits on issues such as contracts established outside the workplace, prepaid housing sales, installment sales contracts, timeshare, package tours, after-sales services and price tags.

As a result of inspections within this scope, administrative fines of approximately 713 million liras were imposed last year and approximately 171 million liras in the first three months of 2024.

While an administrative fine of 114 million lira was imposed last year regarding deceptive and misleading advertisements, a fine of 65 million lira was imposed in the first quarter of this year.

Within the scope of market surveillance and control activities, the Ministry imposed administrative fines of approximately 15 million lira last year and approximately 8 million lira in the January-March period of this year.

Within the scope of consumer legislation, administrative fines of approximately 842 million liras were imposed in 2023 and 244 million liras in the first three months of 2024.