The Consumer Ombudsman’s Office (DC) successfully recovered $461,736 in favor of 1,016 Salvadorans during the Christmas and New Year festivities. The financial sector topped the list of complaints, accounting for 65% of the total, with over $314,900 returned to 660 users.

The office handled a variety of sectors, including vehicles, which saw $44,200 returned, as well as appliances, furniture, and household items, totaling $26,400. The tourism sector also contributed to the recovery efforts, with $23,900 returned to 17 consumers.

In addition to the monetary recoveries, the Ombudsman’s Office served 8,611 Salvadorans, providing information, advice, and assistance with complaints. A total of 1,019 inspections were carried out to ensure consumer protection.

The financial services sector accounted for 81% of the complaints, with 2,809 cases, followed by services (2,449 cases), telecommunications (775), household appliances (686), and electricity (251). The majority of complaints (84%) were related to non-compliance with contracts or offers, as well as undue charges, fees, and commissions.

According to DC President Ricardo Salazar, inspections revealed an 85.38% compliance rate with the Consumer Protection Law (LPC) and related regulations. The remaining non-compliance issues involved improper charges, violation of information rights, and failure to meet labeling requirements for energy efficiency and scales.

The companies involved in these violations will face legal action from the DC Sanctioning Court. Additionally, inspection teams verified the certification of non-automatic weighing instruments to ensure accurate measurements in supermarkets and other establishments, safeguarding consumer rights.

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