Consumers' Association new Website

Thanks to financial aid given by the EU Delegation in Malta, Maltese consumers can now visit another Consumer Affairs Website (www.camalta.org), set up by the Consumers' Association president Benny Borg Bonello.

Apart from focusing mainly on Consumers' Affairs, it also has a section directed at tourists visiting Malta. This section focuses mainly on transport and hotel services.

Although most of the text is in English, there will also be extracts in Maltese. It is very user friendly, with information on different topics, including local current issues. There will be a review of what has been said in the local media and the association will voice its opinion on the respective issues.

It is envisaged that another section will be set up to make it possible for consumers to participate and voice their opinion. This section will initially be updated every week but it is hoped that in future it would be adjourned more frequently.

There will be write-ups by the association's members and press releases. Another section will consist of the association's policies as well as papers written/presented by its members. Other issues can be looked into by the association on behalf of consumers.

Another field on international news will be divided into two parts - current news and any developments taking place within the EU, as well as general and global news. Local consumers will be more aware of what is happening around them and will be able to participate in international consumer affairs.

General and specific information can also be found on this Website. Teachers of the subject and their students can avail themselves of this source of information. One can also surf through other sections on:

¤ Information on the Consumers' Association, its foundation, objectives and roles during the years;

¤ the Statute of the Consumers' Association;

¤ Ongoing projects; and

¤ Frequently Asked Questions. This section, more than any other section, depends on queries made by consumers. In fact, the first questions chosen were submitted by a student.

There are links with other important consumers' Websites and consumers will be in a better position to communicate with the association.

Your rights are explained with a brief look at the eight consumers' rights. These can be defined in three words - a fair deal. The association believes that these rights provide the basics of all legislation that are designed to protect the consumers.

Members will be able to lodge complaints through the Website and Consumer Claims Tribunal decisions will be featured. Like anything else, the success of the Website depends only on how many times the consumers view and participate in it.