ENFORCEMENT ACTION HAS been taken by the National Consumer Agency (NCA) against an Irish company that has failed to deliver items to customers that were ordered in 2013.
The company, Christmas Direct, was run as an online ‘layaway’ programme where the items were not required from the supplier until near Christmas.
Christmas Direct said that out of 4,000 customers who placed orders with them last year, 80 have been affected by supply issues.
Some are still waiting for refunds for their items. A number had contacted the NCA about their experiences with Christmas Direct.
The enforcement action is being taken under part 5 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007:
Investigation
Today, the agency said it has been investigating the commercial practices associated with the business name ‘Christmas Direct’.
Having concluded the compliance audit of the investigation, the Agency has commenced an enforcement action under Part 5 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007. The Agency, however, may not publish details of the action until the persons affected are given the opportunity to appeal the Agency’s findings to the Courts. Therefore, the Agency cannot comment any further at this time.
According to the NCA, in general, when it comes to business-to-consumer transactions, “there is a required standard of commercial behaviour that is expected of all traders. These standards apply both before and after any purchase by a consumer.”
The agency said that if it encounters instances of traders “failing to adhere to these standards”, it will intervene in the interests of protecting consumers.
Apologies
Speaking to TheJournal.ie earlier this month, Mary Ronan of Christmas Direct said that 70 per cent of the people who had not received items have been refunded.
“We had some supplier issues from the UK [with] some of our suppliers that honour stock,” she said.
Ronan apologised on 5 May, saying that it is “a very unfortunate situation” that was not anticipated.
Some customers had contacted TheJournal.ie to say they were left out of pocket after ordering items on Christmas Direct:
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