MUSCAT: In 2024, the Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) of Oman successfully recovered over RO 3 million for consumers, marking a significant achievement in safeguarding consumer rights across the Sultanate. This accomplishment reflects the CPA’s unwavering commitment to addressing consumer grievances and ensuring fair market practices. The recovered funds stemmed from various sectors, including automotive, construction, and retail, highlighting the CPA’s broad oversight and effective intervention strategies.✳
The CPA’s proactive approach involved meticulous investigations and mediations that led to substantial refunds for affected consumers. For instance, in Barka, a consumer who purchased a faulty vehicle received a full refund of RO 15,050 after CPA’s intervention cite🚢turn0search6🚶. Similarly, in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, a construction-related dispute resulted in a consumer being compensated with RO 4,000 following CPA’s facilitation cite🚢turn0search5🚶. These cases exemplify the authority’s dedication to resolving complex issues and restoring consumer trust.✳
The CPA’s efforts extended to addressing a surge in consumer complaints, which saw a 23% increase in 2024, totaling 32,776 cases cite🚢turn0search2🚶. Despite the rise, the authority maintained a high resolution rate, successfully resolving 95.3% of complaints across all governorates. This efficiency underscores the CPA’s robust complaint management system and its effectiveness in handling consumer issues promptly.✳
Beyond financial recoveries, the CPA intensified market surveillance, leading to the seizure of over 115,000 non-compliant products in 2024 cite🚢turn0search0🚶. These actions not only protected consumers from potentially harmful goods but also signaled to businesses the importance of adhering to regulatory standards. The CPA’s comprehensive approach, combining consumer restitution with stringent market oversight, reinforces its role as a pivotal institution in upholding consumer rights in Oman.✳
