The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has flagged 59 untraceable businesses that accepted payments from consumers but failed to deliver goods or services – or supplied defective products. Of these, 20 claim to be car dealerships, and three claim to sell auto parts.
Although many online car dealerships operate legitimately, the NCC’s list highlights how this space has also attracted bad actors. Business directory services appear to be another target area, with nine of the flagged entities claiming to offer listing services.
The list was updated on 11 July, when the Commission added 20 more names. In several cases, the businesses have become impossible to trace.
“In many cases, these suppliers have vanished from their known addresses, while some have shut down their websites, making it impossible for consumers to contact them for redress,” the NCC said.
“Consumers filed complaints with the NCC alleging that they cannot obtain redress, as the suppliers are unresponsive. The NCC’s efforts to contact these suppliers to facilitate redress for consumers failed, as the preliminary assessment indicates that these suppliers have either closed down or never existed.”
The Commission said it views this as a “deliberate attempt to evade the law and avoid accountability”.
It also reminded suppliers of their obligations under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA): “The purpose and policy of the CPA, amongst others, is to protect consumers from unconscionable, unfair, unreasonable, unjust, or improper trade descriptions, and deceptive, misleading, unfair, or fraudulent conduct. The CPA also mandates that suppliers provide consumers with their addresses and communication channels to reach those suppliers.”
Tracing agents have been appointed to try to locate the missing suppliers.
Meanwhile, the NCC said: “Suppliers who believe they have been listed erroneously are encouraged to contact the NCC.”
The updated list of flagged suppliers can be found on the NCC’s website.
Online portal to streamline consumer complaints
The NCC has rolled out a new e-Services portal aimed at making it easier for consumers to lodge complaints against suppliers who may have violated the CPA.
To use the system, consumers must first create and verify a profile. Once registered, they can submit multiple complaints through the portal, track their progress, and receive updates – all in one place.
The NCC says the portal will help to streamline communication and speed up the resolution process. “Consumers can log into their profiles to view the status of their complaints or contact the Commission for feedback or updates using one reference number, linked to their profiles,” it said.
When submitting a complaint, consumers are urged to provide as much detail as possible, including the date of the transaction, when the dispute arose, proof of purchase, steps taken to resolve the matter, and any communication with the supplier.
Once a complaint is lodged, the system will notify consumers via email whenever there is an update or the matter is escalated, keeping them informed throughout the process.
The NCC says the portal also enables officials to follow up with consumers when additional information is required.
Click here to access the e-Services portal
