Consumers concerned about information security
Consumers concerned about information security
The Vietnam Competition and Customer Protection Authority received nearly 6,700 requests and complaints from consumers in the January-August period this year, with 36% of them related to enterprises’ violations of regulations protecting consumers’ information.
Most consumers complained about enterprises’ illegal collection of their information, ignored requests for information adjustment and the use of their information for improper purposes, the local media reported.
Consumers also complained that many enterprises did not make it possible for them to study the content of sale contracts before signing them. Some firms did not provide copies of contracts for consumers or changed the content of contracts. These complaints accounted for 22% of the total.
In addition, 16% of consumers’ complaints in the eight-month period related to enterprises’ provision of inadequate and inaccurate information, causing difficulties or misunderstandings for consumers making decisions.
Consumers trading on ecommerce platforms and social networks also raised concerns over the quality and quantity of products being delivered to them as well as the long delivery time.
Meanwhile, the finance, banking and insurance sectors received the highest number of requests and complaints from consumers, accounting for 40.37% of the total. Consumers complained about the violations of not only banks and financial companies but also the providers of peer-to-peer lending services.
According to the Vietnam Competition and Customer Protection Authority, this lending model is becoming popular, with an increase in both the number of customers and loan value.
Some consumers claimed they were asked to pay debts without taking out any loans. In some cases, the images and private information of consumers and their relatives were published on social networks to force them to pay debts, even when they had already paid their debts in full.
Therefore, the authority is encouraging consumers to only take loans from banks and financial companies licensed by the State Bank of Vietnam.
The phone and telecommunications sector came in second with 20.65% of requests and complaints, and the electronic product and household appliance sector ranked third with 9.38%.
Under the Consumer Protection Law, consumers have eight specific rights, including those protecting their interests while using products and services, stated Nguyen Manh Hung, chairman of the Vietnam Competition and Customer Protection Authority.
If their rights are infringed upon, they can contact the Vietnam Competition and Customer Protection Authority, the Departments of Industry and Trade and the districts’ economic units.
