Latoya Halstead, communications director at the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), says the entity has secured J$22 million in refund/compensation on behalf of aggrieved consumers for the period April to October 2023.

Halstead noted that during the period, 893 complaints were handled, of which 572 were resolved.

“So, we are looking at a resolution rate of 64.05 per cent, which is basically on track for what we have projected,” she said during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank on Thursday (December 14).

The CAC comms director pointed out that the top-three categories of complaints were electrical equipment and appliances, other services and utilities, and hardware, which placed third for the first time.

She further indicated that the electrical equipment and appliances category “always seems to top” the categories of complaints made by consumers to the CAC each year.

“It can say two things really – that consumers more and more are buying appliances and electrical items, but it can also say that consumers are also not doing their due diligence when they are purchasing these items. So, from that perspective, what we are encouraging consumers to do when they are purchasing electrical items and appliances is to read all the labels carefully and test the appliances in store as much as you possibly can,” argued Halstead.

As an agency under the Ministry of Investment and Commerce, the CAC is mandated to enforce the Consumer Protection Act and facilitate ethical behaviour in the marketplace between vendors and consumers.

For further information, persons may visit the CAC’s website at cac.gov.jm, download the CACJamaica mobile app, connect with the agency on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), call 876-619-4222-30 or email [email protected].