CFTC warns fuel attendants to stop deceiving customers

Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC) has warned filling station attendants to stop manipulating the pumps with a view to discharging less amount of fuel than ordered by owners of motorists in the country.

According to information at hand, some fuel attendants do not reset the pump at zero before discharging fuel to motorists attracting an outrage from Malawians who later reported the matter to CFTC.

In a statement released on Wednesday by CFTC Executive Director Charlotte Wezi Malonda made available to faceofmalawi said the conduct is a clear infringement of the Competition and Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Protection Act.

“Section 43(1)(d) of the Competition and Fair Trading Act makes it an offence for any person to engage in conduct that is likely to mislead the public as to the nature, price, availability, characteristics, suitability for a given purpose, quantity or quality of any products or service.

“In view of this, the Commission wishes to appeal to all oil marketing companies to ensure that their filling station attendants do not engage in any form of deceptive conduct aimed at duping motorists. They must also ensure that fuel pumps are working properly and well calibrated. Appropriate penalties will be imposed on any filling station found duping consumers,” reads in part the statement.

The Commission has since appealed to motorists to be vigilant against unscrupulous filling station attendants and ensure that the pumps have been reset to zero before fuel is discharged into their vehicles.