This school year, the Directorate for Consumer Protection and Defense of Market Competition (Acodeco) received, 27 complaints for cases of tied or conditional salesthe entity reported.
These facts were recorded when a private educational center obligates and conditions the applicant to procure items of school uniform, supplies or other inputs.
Most of the submitted appeals a total of 15 resulted in anomaliestwo are under investigation, and 10 were dismissed because there were no irregularities.
Among some of the cases cited by Acodeco is that of the school that forced the father to buy only and exclusively school uniforms only on campus and textbooksunder the excuse that the prices were competitive and with a subscription.
“Just like last year, they make us buy books at school with a platform that has not even been used, with certain dates of school fairs and they raise the price if you buy them later, since it is financed. This has already been found out and the school is looking for that platform,” said one of those affected.
Except, parents were forced to buy a coat that cost $20.00which they sell in the educational institution and students are not allowed to wear any other type of coat, since they state this on the school’s website.
Tied sales are found in Article 36, Number 15, of Law 45 of 2007.which establishes as the supplier’s obligation “to refrain from carrying out actions aimed at limiting the delivery, circulation or distribution of goods or services, through hoarding or tied or conditional sales, unless there is a justified reason for this”.
Acodeco makes it clear schools may recommend but do not require specific brandssince the father of the family must have the power to decide what and where to buy.
The complaints about this illegal practice can be made anonymouslywith a detailed name and location of the school, and a description of the fact, illustrates the entity.
“You can apply via Institutional Information and Complaints System (Sindi) that works 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekvia WhatsApp and Telegram at 6330-3333, social media accounts of AcodecoPma on Facebook, Twitter and the website of this institution,” Acodeco stated.
Source: Panama America
I am Jason Root, author with 24 Instant News. I specialize in the Economy section, and have been writing for this sector for the past three years. My work focuses on the latest economic developments around the world and how these developments impact businesses and people’s lives. I also write about current trends in economics, business strategies and investments.
