By DANNY O. SAGUN
PIA-Dagupan Infocenter

RETAILERS who honor credit or debit cards as well as automated teller machines (ATM) cards are disallowed from imposing a surcharge, extra charge or additional charge over and above the price tag on consumer goods and services, it was gathered Thursday.
Department of Trade and Industry administrative order No. 10, which took effect only last November 5, supplemented earlier-issued administrative order No. 9 of 2002 (which provided rules on price tags and labels) in view of the rising number of complaints about imposition of surcharges in credit card transactions.
“When the consumer pays through a credit/ATM/debit card, he shall pay only the price indicated in the price tag,” the order stressed. Prohibited are separate price tags for cash price and regular price, as well as separate tags for cash price and card price.
Cash-less transactions using credit, debit, and ATM cards have become popular among consumers who frequent big establishments and malls because of convenience as they do not have to bring so much cash which may only attract criminals.
Complaints though have flooded concerned government agencies like the DTI about additional charges being imposed by retailers who accept cards.
“All retailers who honor/accept credit/ATM/debit cards for payment shall not require the cardholders to pay a surcharge, extra charge, or additional charge over and above the price tag on the consumer goods and services,” section 5 of the order said.
Violators may face fines ranging from P200 to P5,000 or a prison term of one month to six months, or both at the discretion of the court, as embodied in articles 81 to 83 of Republic Act No. 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines. A second conviction by the courts carries a penalty of revocation of business permit or license.
Administrative fines ranging from P500 to P300,000 depending on the gravity of the offense, and an additional fine of P1,000 is likewise imposed on each day of continuing violation, according to the AO.
Meanwhile, Daria Mingaracal of the DTI office in Pangasinan, advised consumers who may have complaints on the goods they bought or services they obtained to first contact the store or establishment for possible immediate settlement. DTI or any other concerned agency may intervene if the matter is not resolved between the store and the consumer.
DTI acts on complaints on matters involving basic and prime commodities like processed products, construction and electrical supplies, while cosmetics, food products, and medicines are handled by the Bureau of Food and Drugs. Forest products fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
She said that her office however accepts other complaints that do not fall under DTI’s jurisdiction for referral to other agencies.
The nation observed the month of October as Consumer Welfare Month during which several information dissemination activities were undertaken by the Consumernet-Pangasinan, a grouping of government agencies and non-government organizations chaired by Gov. Victor E. Agbayani that seeks to protect and promote the welfare of consumers.

The Philippine Information Agency Pangasinan office in cooperation with Radyo ng Bayan –DZMQ took an active role in the info drive during the past month.