The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) established that Medical Aesthetic Center Ltd "Med Status" breached the Law of Georgia on the Protection of Consumer Rights through aggressive commercial activity.
After investigating the case, it was confirmed that the trader tried to heavily influence the consumer to quickly sign a contract during their visit to the clinic. The trader, with the assistance of clinic employees, convinced consumers to sign loan agreements to pay for services without providing them with proper information or allowing them to make a free choice. As a result, the GCCA decided that the trader had improperly influenced the consumer's decision and ordered the trader to restore the customer's violated rights within 1 month and adjust their trading policies to comply with relevant laws.
It is vital to highlight, that according to the law, unfair influence is defined as any activity that does not involve coercion or threats but restricts the consumer's ability to make an informed decision, which is a legitimate right of a consumer.
For information: In the first six months of 2024, 407 applications were filed regarding the protection of consumer rights. Out of these, confirmed 38 violations of consumers group rights in 84 cases, and 67 commitment agreements were signed in 77 cases. Additionally, 21 traders were fined for failing to meet GCCA obligations.
