kathimerini.gr
13,420 Consumer Complaints Filed in Greece in 2024: Rising Prices and Unfair Practices Dominate
The Greek consumer protection association, EKPOIZO, handled 13,420 complaints in 2024, with over 1,000 monthly complaints concerning fraud, high prices, and unfair practices across various sectors, particularly banks, health insurance, and online shopping; rising prices are the dominant issue.
- What specific challenges does EKPOIZO face in addressing consumer complaints, and how does this impact resolution times?
- Rising prices are the dominant issue across all sectors, prompting many consumers to seek guidance on where to seek help. Complaints regarding expensive health insurance premiums, both for lifetime and annually renewable plans, have notably increased compared to the previous year. Many food price increase complaints are referred to the Ministry of Development due to EKPOIZO's limited resources.
- What long-term systemic changes are needed to improve consumer protection and address the root causes of widespread complaints in Greece?
- The ongoing issue of reduced bank provisions, following a recent legislative amendment, lacks universal application, highlighting the need for further governmental oversight and investigation. Many responses from businesses to consumer complaints are vague or only partially address consumer needs, requiring further intervention. The increased consumer awareness and complaints signal a need for improved public awareness of consumer rights and more effective business practices.
- What were the most prevalent consumer complaints in Greece during 2024, and what are the immediate implications for consumers and businesses?
- In 2024, the Greek consumer protection association, EKPOIZO, handled 13,420 complaints, with over 1,000 monthly complaints regarding fraud, high prices, and unfair business practices. The most frequent complaints involved banks/funds, high prices, expensive health insurance, online shopping, faulty products, energy, telecommunications, and tourism.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the scale of consumer complaints and the challenges faced by EKPOIZO, potentially highlighting the inadequacies of existing consumer protection mechanisms. The headline could be framed more neutrally to avoid suggesting a crisis or overwhelming problem. The focus on the high number of complaints without sufficient context on resolution success rates might unintentionally amplify the sense of widespread consumer dissatisfaction.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and factual, reporting the situation without strong emotional connotations. However, phrases like "κυρίαρχο πρόβλημα" (dominant problem) and "υπέρογκες αυξήσεις" (exorbitant increases) could be considered slightly loaded, though they are arguably justifiable descriptions given the context. More neutral alternatives could include "significant problem" and "substantial increases.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the types of complaints received by EKPOIZO, but omits data on the overall number of complaints resolved and the success rate of interventions. Additionally, while mentioning the referral of food price increase complaints to the Ministry of Development, it lacks detail on the ministry's response or actions taken. This omission limits the reader's understanding of the full extent of the consumer protection efforts.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between consumer awareness and the complexities of the issues. It suggests that simply reading the fine print and knowing one's rights will solve problems, but this overlooks systemic issues within businesses and institutions that may require broader regulatory action.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a significant number of consumer complaints regarding unfair practices, high prices, and deceptive marketing by businesses. This directly impacts the SDG of Reduced Inequalities, as these practices disproportionately affect vulnerable populations with less economic power to advocate for themselves. The high number of complaints regarding high prices of essential goods like food and healthcare, and difficulties accessing financial services, exacerbates existing inequalities.