Complaints to Consumers Association up by 44.9% in 2023

Complaints submitted to the Cyprus Consumers Association in 2023 were up by 44.9% on an annual basis, the association said on Monday.

In a press release, the association compares the complaints submitted in 2022 and 2023, noting that the four categories of complaints that showed the greatest increase compared to 2022 are the categories "return policy" with an increase of 166%, "email scams" with a rise of 161%, complaints related to "high prices and cost of living ” with an increase of 148% and “online scams” with an increase of 111%.

Total complaints submitted in 2022 reached 1,485, while in 2023 their number reached 2,152 registering an increase of 44.9%.

The total number of written complaints in 2022 was 709 and in 2023 it was 763 showing an increase of 7.6%, while the total number of telephone complaints was 776 in 2022 and 1,389 in 2023 recording an increase of 79.0%.

The Cyprus Consumers Association says in its press release that it takes the concerns of the consumers as well as the continued increase in the number of complaints very seriously.

It adds that within its capabilities, it will intensify its efforts to fully inform consumers about their rights, as well as carry out more intensive controls and market monitoring.

The Association also says that in 2023 it issued a number of announcements covering most of the topics that concern consumers and that the announcements can be found on its official website, as well as on social media.

It also notes that it has concluded separate mediation and consumer dispute resolution agreements with 62 retail businesses.

"These agreements help and have helped decisively in resolving consumer complaints" it concludes.