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Friday, June 20, 2008

It's Your Turn

Hello consumers,

We have suffered for very long at the hands of the banks, the insurance companies, the car dealers, monopolies, etc.

Many unhealthy practices have prevailed and in some cases although there is legislation there is no policing of the legislation. Hence a lot of automarts and supermarkets display goods on their shelves without the prices; which is against the law. I always argue that the customer should not get any surprises when they reach the checkout counter.

It is expected that the three advocates on this blog will bring their own approaches. Mine would be to do the research on the issues raised and present the findings for your assimilation and decision to take action.

Input from visitors are welcomed. Remember that this is a national effort to empower consumers and not continue to simply take all that is being dished out.

The success of this blog depends on you. It is the place where you can get help and education as a consumer. Did you know for example that every gas pump should be calibrated often and that each should carry their calibration certificate with an expiry date that should be clearly visible to customers... and that if a pump does not have the certificate you should not accept gas from it?

So, let' s go!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

banks, supermarkets, and insurance companies have been taking advantage of the consumers for years only because they do not know their rights and no one to fight their battle many supermarkets do not price their items to get a loan from the bank you have to produce everything you have to be able to qualify for the loan. insurance do not get sick and expect to get a life policy you have to be in perfect health so where do these cooperate businesses leave the small consumers.thank you barbados consumers watch for intervening on the behalf of the people may the spirit continue to guide you .

Moderator said...

Thanks for being the first one to make a comment. We are just trying to encourage all consumers to bat for themselves in order to affect change and a better deal for all.

We can do it, so lets do it

Anonymous said...

Did you know for example that every gas pump should be calibrated often and that each should carry their calibration certificate with an expiry date that should be clearly visible to customers... and that if a pump does not have the certificate you should not accept gas from it?


Thanks for telling me this! I had no idea! Please continue to educate us on issues like this!

Hallam Hope said...

You no longer have to pay more than a dollar for that overseas call to a friend in the U.S, Canada or the U.K. Simply find an outlet for Blue Communications or Cable & Wireless and you can buy a card that allows you to make that call at 49 cents Barbados. The card can be used over a fixed line phone, namely the one in your home or at any other residence or business or at a pay phone. It cannot be used via your cellular phone where that same call could cost up to $1.30.
Hallam Hope

Anonymous said...

Glad to see this blog up and running. We need more consumer advocates. Often I visit supermarkets and see expired goods on the shelves and the owners behave like its not a big issue. Gook work ROK,

David Fisher said...

Congratulations on starting this blog! This will not only help consumers but help businesses who want and need the feedback, but typically don't have effective ways of getting it.

While I haven't been a Barbados resident for many years, I stay in touch via the Lodge School e-mail list. I look forward to showing fellow residents on Maui this blog as it flowers, and maybe will will start one on this island too.

If I can help from Hawaii I will do so.

Anonymous said...

I am very happy to see a forum such as this. I hope it will grow from strength to strength. Only this week I was calling a leading bank to try to get a cheque book since I have only had a savings account with them all the years. I was shocked to find out that anyone (personal or business) with a chequing account at that bank actually pays them $10 per month for the privilege in ADDITION to paying for each cheque they use. When I enquired as to why so high a monthly fee they said it was a service charge. And I asked them well suppose I don't use any cheques that month will you still charge me and the answer was YES. I asked them 'what for? I didn't get any service from you.' and the answer was still the same.
They are robbing us BLIND.

Anonymous said...

Another rediculous fee is the annual fee charged for credit cards in Barbados. I currently hold a UK Visa card and no longer pay an annual fee. To be competitive they earn their money through the interest and other fees and the annual fee is not necessary. If you use the facility then you pay and if you don't then you don't pay.
Why can't we move to this system?
Why do we have to pay $60 and $75 annually just to be able to hold one of their credit cards?

Anonymous said...

I did not pay the annual fee on my credit card and was charged $40 late fee. The following month the annual fee was reversed but not the late fee. I did not pay, it has continued for the past three months with the bank adding $40 plus interest each month.

I do not intend to pay and I am waiting to see how far they go.

ROK said...

Hi Fedup! This is interesting. You admit that you did not pay the annual fee and I am assuming that you don't have any credit on your card. So therefore for all intents and purposes you really owe them nothing.

The annual fee for the use of the card is merely a fee for a facility, i.e. a license.

I am also assuming that the late fee is for the annual fee and not for any credit you had.

You are only obligated to pay for the license if you use the card. Consequently, the bank can determine that you have or no longer have a license if you have not paid your annual fee and the penalties attached. Fees and penalties are two separate issues.

If you want the card bad enough then you will pay otherwise it may very well affect all your credit in the future.

The problem is that when you become a slave to the system, it can shut you out. It is almost like rendering a person dead and in these days, it isn't like there is a community breadfruit tree around every corner.

As consumers we should follow your example. If sufficient stand up, then the banks would be forced to review their customer care policies. Do they have any?

Anonymous said...

If you no longer need the card, then you do not pay the annual fee and pay off all outstanding balances by the due date.
The balance on the account was $0.00 before the annual fee was charged.
Extremely high late fees are supposed to curb delinquency, so
it is intresting that a red flag is not raised, by a credit card holder not making a payment for three months.

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