A. M. 
The Defensoría del Consumidor (DC) has recovered a total of US$32.2 million in favor of consumers so far this year, according to recent figures. This achievement includes the handling of more than 118,000 cases, of which more than 34,000 involved direct monetary refunds. These results reflect the commitment to guarantee justice in commercial relations, especially during the end-of-year festivities, when commerce intensifies its promotional activities.
Among the mechanisms used to protect consumers, the continuous monitoring of prices of more than 1,500 products, including furniture and household appliances, particularly relevant during Black Friday, stands out. These actions seek to avoid unfair practices such as misleading advertising, which in previous years has been detected in establishments that promised discounts of up to 85%, but did not deliver what was offered.
The President of the Defensoría del Consumidor, Ricardo Salazar, stressed the importance of information for consumers. “It is essential that consumers understand the terms and conditions of offers and not be misled by false promotions. We have detected recurring cases of misleading advertising, and we continue to work to eradicate this practice”, Salazar stated, encouraging the use of the Compara portal, a key tool to verify historical prices.
Since june 2019, the Defensoría ‘s actions have resulted in more than US$9.5 million in fines imposed on businesses for non-compliance and US$2.7 million in refunds ordered by administrative resolutions. These figures reflect the tangible impact of the control and sanction measures that have been implemented.
Preventive strategies also include a focus on non-face-to-face attention, which has been used by 60% of users this year. Tools such as the 910 telephone line and WhatsApp 7844-1482 have facilitated direct communication with consumers, providing them with advice and attending to complaints in record time.
Ahead of the holidays in the last quarter of the year, the institution continues to strengthen its efforts to protect consumers in a context of high commercial activity. With a focus on transparency, education and sanction, the Defensoría del Consumidor reaffirms its commitment to ensure a fair and safe shopping experience for all salvadorans.
