Ana Knežević from the Association Potrošač was a guest in N1 Studio live where she commented on the large increase in prices and the impact on household budgets as well as the Government’s measures.
“Consumers didn’t feel anything, they were tricked because the VAT reduction was announced from February, we all expected lower prices, but instead prices are rising and there is no end in sight,” she said. Ana Knežević commenting on the Government’s VAT reduction on solar panels and added:
“People are already buying wood and pellets, we have had problems with solar panels for a long time, the VAT reduction will help the energy situation negligibly. Plenković said that consumers are not aware that they are paying a ten times lower electricity price than on the market, and I think the prime minister is not aware that for most consumers this price is also an extremely high blow to the household budget.”
About the introduction of the euro and the possible use of the opportunity in which traders could raise prices to hit the wallets of customers even harder, Knežević said: “Secret buyers are in the field, in August we count only in kuna and the comparison starts from September. We have a list of items and services given by the Ministry of Economy, we have to follow that – basic items (sugar, milk, flour, rice, pasta, coffee), services in restaurants and cafes, bank transfers, hair salons…”
He points out that they list in Zagreb, Sisak and Pula. “I don’t know about other associations, the Split association gave up, so that county is not covered,” he adds.
He also explains what it looks like on the ground: “We monitor 60 retailers and 36 service providers – are there double prices, is the fixed exchange rate shown, are the prices correctly calculated… If we notice irregularities, we report it to the State Inspectorate and they then react.” If it is determined that the price is to the detriment of the consumer, the inspection must punish the trader, they have instruments under the Law on State Inspectorate and Consumer Protection.”
They will also publish blacklists, he says: “There was a lot of talk about this, we thought the Ministry would publish blacklists, but they left it up to us to choose.” We said we would publish if we had evidence that someone was breaking the law. As of September 5th, we are obliged to publish the lists we monitor on our website, it will be seen which traders and products will violate the provisions. We will follow them until the end of 2023.”
Source: N1
Knežević notes that the Government should also limit the prices of basic foodstuffs:
“The price of sugar dropped by 40 percent in a week. The government must be aware of that, I don’t know if anyone takes it into account. The oil has gone almost one hundred percent in a year. They should limit prices for basic foodstuffs if the standard is to be protected. Bank fees are rising, I don’t understand why… It’s a big blow.”
Track N1 via Android apps | iPhone/iPad and social networks Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.
