Companies that deceive consumers have been fined 815.3 million TL since the beginning of the year.

The price gap between the field and the price, various unfair commercial activities including the sale of defective goods and services... The Ministry of Trade has made a statement regarding the strict inspections it has carried out since the beginning of the year for the benefit of consumers. Many companies have been heavily fined. In a post made on the Ministry's social media account, it was stated that "As the Ministry of Trade, we have imposed 815 million 323 thousand 796.32 TL administrative fines in the inspections we have conducted to protect the interests of our consumers."

THERE IS NO TOLERANCE FOR CONSUMER VICTIMIZATION

The Ministry of Trade stated that the work for the protection of consumers and market surveillance continues uninterrupted. The statement said, "In the inspections carried out within the scope of consumer contracts, advertising and unfair commercial practices control, market surveillance and inspection carried out within the scope of product safety, and inspection activities carried out by our provincial organization, a total of 815 million 323 thousand 796.32 TL administrative fines were imposed in the first 8 months of 2024." It was reported that administrative fines of 79 million 580 thousand 960 TL were imposed only in the inspections carried out in August 2024.

COMPANIES THAT ACT CONTRARY TO CONTRACTS WERE NOT EXEMPT FROM PENALTIES

As a result of the inspections, it was reported that administrative fines of 432 million 389 thousand 365.12 TL were imposed in the first 8 months of the year for the acts contrary to consumer contracts, including distance contracts, subscription contracts, contracts established outside the workplace, pre-paid (through models) housing sales, timeshare, package tours, banking services, unfair terms, and after-sales services, which cover issues such as consumer contracts.

ZERO TOLERANCE PRINCIPLE FOR UNSAFE PRODUCTS

As the Ministry of Trade, in order to protect the interests of consumers, to ensure their access to safe products with the "zero tolerance principle for unsafe products", and to provide quality and trouble-free service procurement, it was stated that field inspections and legislation studies will continue with meticulousness, and the following information was provided:

In addition, within the scope of product safety, market surveillance and inspection activities carried out for consumer products such as textiles, shoes, toys, stationery, child care and use products, and detergents, a total of 16 million 386 thousand 452 TL was imposed, and within the scope of advertising and unfair commercial practices inspections, administrative fines of 165 million 41 thousand 612 TL were imposed for contrary acts. On the other hand, within the scope of inspections carried out by our provincial organization, administrative fines of 201 million 506 thousand 367.20 TL were imposed for non-compliance identified as a result of inspections, primarily for price tags and tariff and price lists of businesses providing food and beverage services such as restaurants, cafes, pastry shops, and similar establishments.