By Raymart Escopel
ILOILO City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is currently intensifying its efforts in informing the public about things they must remember when paying using credit, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) and debit cards.
DTI issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 10, Series of 2006 which reminds sellers and/or retailers of being prohibited in putting extra charges when the consumer is using credit, ATM and debit cards as a means of payment.
Consumers nowadays, choose to use bank cards as payment for their purchases seeing as it is more easy and convenient.
In Antique for example, based on the report of Philippine Information Agency, department stores, as well as business establishments like drug stores, appliance centers, gasoline stations and even hardware are now accepting credit, ATM and debit cards as a mode of payment.
AO No. 10 includes guidelines on credit card charges relative to the rules on price tags, modes of payments and other price tag practices.
For cash transactions, for example, the consumer shall only pay the price indicated on the price tag.
The same rule applies for bank card transactions like credit, ATM and debit cards.
Retailers are allowed to offer the consumers cash, card or installment options for as long as the payment options shall be disclosed in separate information to the consumer and should not be indicated on the price tag.
Price tag indicating a separate cash price tag and regular price tag on each product or service is not allowed as well as those separate price tag and card price tag.
Aside from AO No. 10, DTI is also reiterating the Consumer Act of the Philippines or Republic Act 7394 which protects the interests and general welfare of the consumers./PN
