E-Payment Cards Cause Algerians To Drown In Debts

E-commerce does not exist really in Algeria, and the existing websites were created for advertising, and do not provide the basic conditions for consumers, including the protection and safety in the absence of formal laws, Vice President of the Algerian Federation of Consumers, Menawar Hassan, said.

“We fear of the mainstream of the electronic payment card that could push consumers to borrow money from banks to pay off their belongings, as they will lose their ability to control their purchases and their balances,  and this system will encourage them to consume more than they need. There is an absence of a culture of filing complaints against consumers despite the existence of 45 national associations for consumer protection, including five national and 40 local associations, in addition to the departments of Commerce”.

For his part, Mr. Hariz told Echorouk, on the sidelines of a seminar on “Consumer Rights in the Digital Age”, which was held, on Sunday, at the “DK News” headquarters, to mark the International Consumer Day, on March 15 of each year, that only 51% of Algerians enjoy their rights, while the others remain without rights,  in spite of the arsenal of the existing laws and legislation, as the users of digitization represent 25%, according to federal estimates. 

“Consumers’ security is guaranteed by law, but only 60% of consumers feel it, and 80% know it, and after the ratification of the advertisement law the consumer is still vulnerable to false advertisement”.

“Right to compensation is among the more trampled rights and is also absent, as only 10% of consumers knew this and benefited from it, while the others only criticize or talk about it”.

 “Government should apply strict measures, as stated by the Kyoto agreement, through the imposition of fines on enterprises and abusers among citizens as well”.