Consumer complaints: why do Haredim hardly complain?
Ombudsman Report 2012 published by the Consumer Council shows: Haredi communities rarely complain • Is it because there is no harm to consumers or because consumer rights awareness is low?
- Nachman Gur, Behadrey Haredim
- ז' ניסן התשע"ג
Don't complain. Haredi consumers
Towards International Consumer Day which fell last week, the Consumer Council published a report of consumer complaints for 2012. The report shows that last year 38 thousand consumer complaint files were opened, an increase of 11.4% compared to the number of complaints in 2011.
Communications is the leading field in number of complaints - for the sixth consecutive year. About a quarter of the applications to the Council (23%) were regarding communications (telephony, Internet, multi – channel TV, etc.). Other "stars" in the list: complaints on electronics, clothing and footwear, furniture and regarding tourism. 80% of the complaints were justified, of which the Consumer Council successfully treated 75% of the complaints.
Another interesting statistic report shows identifying complainants by city. The report shows explicitly that cities inhabited by people with higher socioeconomic hierarchy - complain more. Conversely, cities / towns in the periphery, including Haredi communities, are at the bottom of the rating and their inhabitants relatively rarely complain.
Mr. Ehud Peleg, CEO of the Israel Consumer Council, said: "We see a very, very significant priority to strong and established communities which have a high socioeconomic level population over the outlying towns and settlements because it is certainly not that in peripheral communities there are less vulnerable consumers, but there is weaker consumer awareness in these communities. They are less familiar with their rights and therefore sometimes do not identify even the very fact that they were harmed, and even when they were harmed do not know to obtain the right language and to rely on the right to demand back what they deserve.
"No doubt in the Haredi sector consumer awareness is lower, even though we see and are happy to see expressions of messages to consumers in the Haredi press. It takes explanatory effort with emphasis on the periphery which the Consumer Council conducts and which began last year in cooperation with Galilee Development Authority, and we intend to expand it to other areas in the country.
"I appeal to the Haredi public to increase consumer awareness, to stand on its rights by appealing factors to assist you to exercise these rights: Consumer Council appeal, or appeal to the government."
Communications is the leading field in number of complaints - for the sixth consecutive year. About a quarter of the applications to the Council (23%) were regarding communications (telephony, Internet, multi – channel TV, etc.). Other "stars" in the list: complaints on electronics, clothing and footwear, furniture and regarding tourism. 80% of the complaints were justified, of which the Consumer Council successfully treated 75% of the complaints.
Another interesting statistic report shows identifying complainants by city. The report shows explicitly that cities inhabited by people with higher socioeconomic hierarchy - complain more. Conversely, cities / towns in the periphery, including Haredi communities, are at the bottom of the rating and their inhabitants relatively rarely complain.
Mr. Ehud Peleg, CEO of the Israel Consumer Council, said: "We see a very, very significant priority to strong and established communities which have a high socioeconomic level population over the outlying towns and settlements because it is certainly not that in peripheral communities there are less vulnerable consumers, but there is weaker consumer awareness in these communities. They are less familiar with their rights and therefore sometimes do not identify even the very fact that they were harmed, and even when they were harmed do not know to obtain the right language and to rely on the right to demand back what they deserve.
"No doubt in the Haredi sector consumer awareness is lower, even though we see and are happy to see expressions of messages to consumers in the Haredi press. It takes explanatory effort with emphasis on the periphery which the Consumer Council conducts and which began last year in cooperation with Galilee Development Authority, and we intend to expand it to other areas in the country.
"I appeal to the Haredi public to increase consumer awareness, to stand on its rights by appealing factors to assist you to exercise these rights: Consumer Council appeal, or appeal to the government."
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