UOKiK checked prices at 3,026 shops and outlets: violations at almost every second one, 899 fines

The Trade Inspection (Inspekcja Handlowa), on the instructions of the head of UOKiK, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, checked how shops, chains, petrol stations, car parks, hotels and service providers inform customers about prices and promotions. Of 3,026 outlets inspected, violations were found at 1,462 businesses. Inspectors assessed the price display of 461,437 products, and violations concerned 60,001 of them, about 13%. A total of 899 fines worth more than 1.2 million zł were imposed; most companies corrected their price tags during the inspection itself.

A common error is the discount calculation: when announcing a price cut, the seller must show the product’s lowest price in the 30 days before the promotion and calculate the discount from it, not from the regular price. There were also incorrect unit prices, per kilogram or litre, which are used to compare packages of different sizes.

For breaching the law on price information, a voivodeship inspector can impose a fine of up to 20,000 zł, or up to 40,000 for three or more violations within 12 months; for infringing the collective interests of consumers, the head of UOKiK can impose a fine of up to 10% of turnover.