DOHA: In surprise raids on Friday, inspectors from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce have caught 56 outlets supplying foodstuff, campfire wood and dune buggies on rent, among other things, to winter camp-goers for charging unreasonable prices and violating licensing terms and the law protecting consumer rights.
The outlets have been asked to rectify their pricing or face the music, and they include 20 eateries serving the camp-goers, 24 dune buggy rental shops, 10 campfire wood sellers and two outlets supplying other necessities of the camp-goers. The Ministry said in a release yesterday that while the 24 buggy rental outlets have permanent licence to operate their businesses, the eateries and campfire wood and other retailers have been given temporary licenses which are valid only during the winter camping season.
These outlets were charging more from their patrons, the camp-goers, than the pricing they agreed to while they were given the licence by the Ministry.
“They increased the prices without seeking permission from us,” the Ministry said in its release. The rates they were charging were not reasonable and violated the terms and conditions of the licensing that was provided to them, said the ministry. “They signed written undertaking with us to offer their products and paraphernalia at fair prices.”
The licences were provided to the outlets in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment which gives the permission to winter camp-goers to install camps in the dunes.
Most outlets are based in Sealine and adjacent areas.
The ministry has warned the errant outlets and asked them to sell and rent out their products and paraphernalia at reasonable rates or strict action will be taken against them.
This time they have been given a warning but the next time they are caught, they will be referred to authorities for legal action, the ministry said in a stern tone.
The ministry has urged people to bring to its notice any irregularity they notice, on hotline 16001 or email at [email protected]
The outlets have been issued warning for violating provisions of the law that seeks to protect consumer rights, according to the ministry.
The Peninsula
