Consumers are advised to be mindful of purchasing goods and services this festive season.
The call comes from the Consumer Council of Fiji as consumers await for the 6 percent Value Added Tax reduction that will come to affect in January next year.
The Consumer Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Premila Kumar said the council is calling for consumer solidarity in exposing dishonest traders who fail to reflect the VAT reduction in the New Year.
“There are some traders already contemplating to increase the price now and just drop it in January. So we have managed to get some receipts in that regard and we are holding onto these receipts till Jan strives in. We do expect the prices to come down and then we can trek how the traders have played up in the market,” Kumar said.
The new 9 percent VAT will apply to all goods and services whether new or old.
Consumers who retain their receipts from now will be able to cross check the price differences if any come 2016.
“It does not mean you only keep the receipts from supermarkets but also keep the receipts if you buying clothes, shoes, books, or visiting the beauty saloon or hairdressers, eating places including things like entertainment and so forth. Even medicines you purchase. We need all these receipts and if consumers call us we are able to go pick those receipts,” she added.