Consumer warnings issued against four operators

Public warnings have been issued against a school transport provider, a furniture maker, a garage doors maker and an airline for failing to honour decisions by the Consumer Claims Tribunal.

The Director-General of Consumer Affairs in a statement said Colshar Garage of Fgur, failed to honour six decisions delivered by the tribunal, notwithstanding several attempts made to secure compliance. All of the decisions related to school transport services which the garage failed to provide. It had been ordered to reimburse two consumers €200, and others €225, €250, €300 and €500 plus the costs of the proceedings.

Christian Zammit – CMZ Woodworks did not comply with a tribunal decision ordering him to refund a deposit in respect of internal wooden doors which were not delivered or installed. 

MBL Garage Door Solutions Ltd failed to honour several decisions by the tribunal, the director-general said. In one case, the company was ordered to reimburse a consumer €3,700, representing the amount paid for two garage doors which turned out to be faulty. In two other cases filed by the same consumer, the company was ordered to reimburse the consumer €5,800, which included €200 in moral damages. The consumer had purchased a sliding gate which began to rust. No agreement was reached to resolve the matter. The tribunal also ordered payment of €3,240 which included €40 in moral damages following the purchase of two garage doors, one of which required panel adjustments that were never carried out.

The director-general said Universal Air Charter had been ordered by a tribunal to pay a consumer €750 after the time of a return flight from Palermo to Malta was changed without the traveller having been duly notified. The consumer became aware of this change in flight time only one day prior to the return flight to Malta, when she herself verified the information with the airline. The company was also ordered to pay the costs of the proceedings.