FTC TARGETS PROMOTERS
Dec 2006
Author: FTC

Over the past five years, The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) received a number of complaints which charged that advertisements related to various staged events were misleading in nature. The complaints included among others: failure of scheduled artistes to perform, failure of events to start at the scheduled times, ticket price being higher than that advertised and failure to notify of changes in venue or any other material change related to the relevant events. It was becoming increasingly obvious that a trend toward anti-competitive conduct had developed among persons or enterprises in the sector. read more

PROPOSAL TO FIX MILK PRICES
Dec 9, 2005
Author: FTC

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) notes with concern, a proposal for the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB) to be authorized to determine farm gate price for milk. This proposal was reported in The Daily Observer on Wednesday, December 7, 2005. Exercising such control over the farm gate price of milk would be contrary to the objectives and provisions of the Fair Competition Act (FCA). read more

COORDINATED ACTION BY GASOLENE RETAILERS
Nov 9, 2005
Author:

The Fair Trading Commission advises that any action that might be in the contemplation of competing gasoline dealers, to close their stations in support of Esso dealers’ current protest activity amounts to a breach of the Fair Competition Act. read more

BUYING A MOTOR VEHICLE
Dec 14, 2004
Author: FTC

A frequently asked question is: What does misleading advertising have to do with competition? The simple answer is: “Everything”. Competitors in a market cannot be allowed to increase their market share by making false claims about their products or their services. One sector in which competition has been growing rapidly in recent times in Jamaica is the motor vehicle sector – new and used. read more

DSS SIGNAL THEFT IN JAMAICA
Jun 3, 2004
Author: JFTC

The Ku-Band, most commonly known as DSS (Digital Satellite System), is one of the two types of satellite television networks currently available in the United States. DSS programming is available from DirecTV and EchoStar's Dish Network. DSS can be seen as a television viewer's dream. It requires only an 18" dish and gives one access to a few hundred channels from several satellites. read more

AIRLINE TICKET PRICES
Edited and Published by the Daily Gleaner, March 13, 2004

A recent complaint reaching the offices of the Fair Trading Commission indicated that an airline ticket advertised as costing US $194.00 actually cost US $297.00 after taxes, fees and charges were added. That represented a 53% increase to the advertised price. read more

'TIS THE SEASON FOR SHOPPING - 2003
December, 2003
Author: FTC

It is coming up to the festive season and consumers are expected to be out doing their Christmas shopping. Some retailers have put out their catalogues while some have been advertising their stocks in the print and electronic media. In whatever way these retailers advertise, not all the relevant information consumers need to make informed choices would be available from the ads. read more

PRESS ADVISORY RE - PERSONS IMPERSONATING FTC OFFICERS
May 26, 2003
Author: FTC

It has come to our attention that members of the public have been impersonating Officers of the Fair Trading Commission with a view to persuading the Managers of various Businesses/Companies to grant refunds or replacements in respect of items purchased. read more

CONSUMER ADVISORY RE: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Mar 31, 2003
Author: FTC

Between January 2002 and January 2003 the number of complaints against various educational institutions, received by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), increased by 110%. read more

'TIS THE SEASON FOR SHOPPING - 2002
Dec 5, 2002
Author: FTC

It is coming up to the festive season and consumers are expected to be out doing their Christmas shopping. Some retailers have put out their catalogues while some have been advertising their stocks in the print and electronic media. In whatever way these retailers advertise, not all the relevant information consumers need to make informed choices would be available from the ads. read more

THE ISSUE OF FAULTY DASHBOARDS OF HYUNDAI MOTOR VEHICLES - MODEL 1995-1998 PURCHASED FROM KEY MOTORS AND CROWN MOTORS LIMITED
Nov 03, 2002
Author: FTC edited by the Observer

Over the last twelve months the Fair Trading Commission has received some twenty complaints against Key Motors and Crown Motors Limited regarding the dashboards of Hyundai motor vehicles, of model year 1995 through to 1998. The dashboards developed cracks within months of purchase of the motor vehicles. Key Motors advises that as at June 2001, it had registered 147 complaints and had settled 15 complaints. read more

"GET ON-LINE" WITH FTC NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE!
Oct 24, 2002
Author:FTC edited by Sunday Observer

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC), Jamaica's Competition Agency and consumer advocate, has launched its re-designed website, www.jftc.com. In keeping with its commitment to public education on the role and function of competition; and recognizing the growing importance of technology in achieving increased public awareness, it has improved its website. read more

THE FTC ADDRESSES VEHICLE MODEL YEAR DISCREPANCY
Jun 23, 2002
Author: FTC

To date, the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has received a total of sixty-two (62) complaints from consumers who allege that they purchased vehicles described as one or another model year and later discovered that they are earlier models. Currently, there are nineteen (19) open files. read more

FAIR TRADING COMMISSION EXAMINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CELL PHONE FILTERS
Jun 9-10, 2002
Author: FTC

Recent complaints reaching the Fair Trading Commission suggest that anti-radiation devices which are currently being advertised and sold in Jamaica are not effective in reducing radiation emission from cellular telephones, as claimed. read more

PRESCRIPTION FEE CHARGES ON OTC DRUGS
Feb 16-17, 2002
Author: FTC

It has come to the attention of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) that some pharmacies charge a prescription fee for the dispensing of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, without informing customers of such a fee. In effect customers become aware of such a charge only after purchase when their bills reflect a price higher than the price at which the drug is displayed. read more

THE COMPLEX WORLD OF CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATE CHARGES
Jan 18, 2002
Author: FTC

Complaints reaching the Fair Trading Commission have highlighted the fact that credit cardholders do not always understand how the interest charged to their account is arrived at. Our investigations reveal that the methods of calculating interest charges on credit card transactions can be complex. In several cases, cardholders have expressed the belief that they have been overcharged read more

FTC ADVISORY REGARDING THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT
Jan 4, 2002
Author: FTC

In recent months, the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) has been receiving complaints about the recurrent failure of the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) to deliver service within the time frames advertised. read more

FTC CHRISTMAS ADVISORY
Dec 20, 2001
Author: FTC

The public is reminded especially at this time of year, that an informed consumer is an empowered consumer. Businesses are likely to operate more efficiently and competitively, in terms of quality and prices, where consumers are vigilant. read more

ENFORCING COMPETITION: THE PROSPECTS FOR JAMAICA'S GROWTH
Nov 17, 2001
Author: S. Chua - Senior Economist

One of the most significant recent changes to Jamaica’s commercial landscape has been the introduction of competition into the telecommunications sector. The end of the monopoly era in telecommunications has brought about investment, innovation, and consumer choice. read more

THE FAIR TRADING COMMISSION CONCLUDES INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALLEGATIONS OF PREDATORY PRICING
Aug 29, 2001
Author: FTC

The Fair Trading Commission (FTC) reports that it recently concluded its investigations into three allegations of predatory pricing. The allegations were made against enterprises in the cable television sector, construction and metal products sector and the supermarket sector. In each of the cases, the FTC found no evidence of predatory pricing. read more

MOBILE TELEPHONE SERVICE
Jul 27, 2001
Author: FTC

The public is being advised that NOT ALL mobile telephones available on the market are compatible with the Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ) TDMA Communications Network or with the Digicel GSM Network read more