Hualien County Service Center of National Immigration Agency-Announcement of Consumer Shopping Rights and Obligations

• Date： 2022-08-30
• Source：Hualien County Service Center
• Hit：306

The number of new immigrants in Taiwan reached to more than 570,000. Besides, the population of new immigrants in Hualien County is nearly 8,000, accounting for more than 2% of the county's population, ranked the third highest among all counties and cities in Taiwan.

When new immigrant consumers engage in various consumer behaviors, they will inevitably buy defective or problematic products. What rights do consumers possess at this time? How can disputes be resolved? Hualien County Service Center hold Family Education and Announcement of Laws and Regulations for new immigrants on August 25, 2022 and specially invited Hualien County Government Consumer Ombudsman Wei, Zheng-Mei (危正美) to remind new immigrants legal knowledges about consumer rights and obligations.

When consumers find that the goods are defective, they should notify the provider as soon as possible to solve the problem, and claim relevant rights. Consumer Ombudsman Ms. Wei said if new immigrants encountered any consumer disputes could call at 1950, National Consumer Service Hotline as a dedicated complaint line offered the consumers, to receive effective consulting service. When the consumer-protection officers received complaints from consumers, they may serve as the chief commissioner in the Consumer Dispute Mediation Commission and take charge in all matters relating to the consumer dispute mediation. She reminded those new immigrants must concern their own rights and be the clever consumers.

A-Jiao (阿嬌) who came from Vietnam shared her consumer experiences during the family education class. She bought online goods and received messages about cash on delivery from the convenient store. She went to the convenient store and paid the fees. However, when she went home and unpacked, she found that the commodity was not her online order. She couldn’t find the provider to solve the problem and was afraid of telling her husband to handle. Eventually, she took it lying down under this situation. Consumer Ombudsman Ms. Wei brought the situation to attention that this is a typical case called “Online Ghost Order”. Netizens were easily becoming victims of online scam when they decided to pay a parcel delivery which the order they didn’t make. If you didn’t place an order, don’t pay. Be alert!

Hualien County Service Center of National Immigration Agency stated that consumers need to cultivate a correct concept of consumption in order to avoid internet fraud. New immigrants can take use of IFI Network to acquire further consumer rights and protective knowledges. Friendly notice the following statement while Mid-Autumn Festival is upcoming and Taiwan is going to gradually ease border controls. To block the African swine fever (ASF) virus from reaching Taiwan is the top priority job. First-time offenders illegally importing meat products into Taiwan from areas affected by ASF within the past three years will be fined NTD 200,000, with the penalty increasing to NTD 1 million for repeat offenders. Foreign passengers not having paid the fine will be prohibited entry. Let’s keep ASF out to protect and create a better future for Taiwan.