Fiji Consumers Association

Last updated

The Fiji Consumers Association (FCA) is a non-profit, voluntary civil society group in the Fiji Islands. The association is registered under Fiji's Charitable Trust Act and is principally based in Suva, Fiji's capital city. The FCA is the only non-government and voluntary consumer organisation in Fiji, and actively participates in activities of the consumer movement in Fiji under the leadership of the statutory consumer agency - Consumer Council of Fiji.

Contents


Office bearers

Membership

Membership is open to all Fiji citizens who are concerned about consumer issues and are willing to accept the objectives of the association. It currently boasts 150 financial members.

Aims and objectives

The principal aim of the association, as outlined in its constitution, is: to collect and disseminate information of benefit to consumers; and in doing so to advance the interests of its subscribing members and those of consumers generally.

Objectives The objectives of the association shall be as follows :-

a) To carry out, commission or promote research, testing and investigation into matters of consumers interest and concern; and to disseminate and resulting information, advice and warnings, including publication of reports, magazines, pamphlets, boos and any other communications.

(b) To improve and maintain the standards of goods and commodities sold, and service rendered to the public.

(c) To persuade the Government and the trading community to make such changes to the laws and practices of the marketplace as will remove disadvantages suffered by consumers and promote better and more just treatment of consumers.

(d) To promote and advance public knowledge of matters affecting consumers, and also the education of consumers of all ages.

(e) To continue to apply the basic principles of its antecedent body on impartiality, independence and avoidance of conflict of interests.

(f) To liaise with and assist other organizations in Fiji and overseas in the pursuit of the objects of the association.

(g) To develop and maintain a collection of library materials relating to consumer matters.

(h) To provide such amenities, services, and facilities for association members and consumers as the executive committee thinks fit, whether of a trading, commercial or of personal nature.

(i) To trade or carry on any type of commercial, financial or business activities with the purpose of generating funds only for the furtherance of its aims and objects.

(j) To do all those things which may lawfully be done, and which in the opinion of the executive committee are for the direct or indirect benefit of the association members and Consumers generally, or are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the foregoing objects.

Some recent activities

Fiji Banking Services (2011) - The association has participated actively in community lobbying for an inquiry into Fiji's banking services sector. [1] It was part of a group of NGOs led by the Consumer Council of Fiji that made a submission to Fiji's competition watchdog, the Fiji Commerce Commission to undertake an inquiry into banking services and the Fiji financial sector in general. [2] The FCA also submitted its written submission [3] on banking services in Fiji.

Stance on mobile phones health effects - The association has been lobbying for the Fiji government to address the possible negative health effects of mobile phones. The association has noted that with the deregulation of the industry and competitive retail prices, consumer use of mobile phones Fiji will most likely double in coming years. [4]

Asserting consumers' rights - In its News Years 2011 message, the Fiji Consumers Association called on consumers in Fiji "to take a more active role this year by asserting their rights and being vigilant on unscrupulous and dishonest trade practices." [5] The association actively lobbies for consumer empowerment in Fiji in light of the economic changes affecting the small island nation.

Related Research Articles

Financial regulation Rules or restrictions for financial institutions

Financial regulation is a form of regulation or supervision, which subjects financial institutions to certain requirements, restrictions and guidelines, aiming to maintain the stability and integrity of the financial system. This may be handled by either a government or non-government organization. Financial regulation has also influenced the structure of banking sectors by increasing the variety of financial products available. Financial regulation forms one of three legal categories which constitutes the content of financial law, the other two being market practices and case law.

Bruce Billson Australian politician

Bruce Frederick Billson is a former politician who was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the Division of Dunkley in Victoria from 1996 to 2016. Billson served as the Minister for Small Business from September 2013 to September 2015.

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is a San Antonio-based Fortune 500 diversified financial services group of companies including a Texas Department of Insurance-regulated reciprocal inter-insurance exchange and subsidiaries offering banking, investing, and insurance to people and families who serve, or served, in the United States Armed Forces. At the end of 2020, it had more than 13 million members.

Consumer organizations are advocacy groups that seek to protect people from corporate abuse like unsafe products, predatory lending, false advertising, astroturfing and pollution.

Digicel is a Caribbean based mobile phone network and home entertainment provider operating in 33 markets across the Worldwide regions.

Citibank (Hong Kong) Franchise subsidiary of Citigroup


Citibank Limited is a licensed bank incorporated in Hong Kong.

Fiji Link Fijian airline

Fiji Link is the trade name for Fiji Airlines Limited, which is a Fijian domestic airline and a wholly owned subsidiary of the international carrier Fiji Airways. It is headquartered at the Fiji Link office in the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAFI) compound at Nadi International Airport in Nadi. It operates scheduled services to 12 destinations within the Fijian Islands as well as regionally within the Pacific Islands. The company slogan is Best value under the Sun.

Mobile banking is a service provided by a bank or other financial institution that allows its customers to conduct financial transactions remotely using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. Unlike the related internet banking it uses software, usually called an app, provided by the financial institution for the purpose. Mobile banking is usually available on a 24-hour basis. Some financial institutions have restrictions on which accounts may be accessed through mobile banking, as well as a limit on the amount that can be transacted. Mobile banking is dependent on the availability of an internet or data connection to the mobile device.

Direct Selling Association

The Direct Selling Association (DSA) is a trade association in the United States that represents direct selling companies, primarily those that use multi-level marketing compensation plans. On behalf of its members' companies, the DSA engages in public relations and lobbying efforts against regulation of the multi-level marketing industry, and it funds political candidates through a political action committee.

Sugar Cane Growers Council represents the sugar cane farmers with the sugar industry in Fiji. It is made up of 38 members elected by the farmers and eight members nominated by the government. The Sugar Cane Growers Council election is held every three years. The Council has a chief executive, the first one being Vijay R. Singh, and a chairman.

Richard Thomas (solicitor)

Richard James Thomas is known for his tenure as Information Commissioner of the United Kingdom, a post which he held from December 2002 to June 2009. During his time in office, he raised concerns over the increased use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) and the introduction of ID Cards in the UK.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is a national political lobbying organization for police executives in Canada. It was founded in 1905 as the Chief Constables Association of Canada and adopted the current name in the early 1950s.

Andrew Bailey (banker) British central banker

Andrew John Bailey is a British central banker who has been Governor of the Bank of England since 16 March 2020.

Citigroup Pty Ltd is the Australian subsidiary of multinational financial services company, Citigroup. The bank operates consumer banking services, including credit cards, savings and transaction accounts, loans, insurance, and self-managed superannuation funds (SMSF), as well as private, corporate and investment banking, and wealth management.

The Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce & Trade (NICCT) is a non-commercial, voluntary association of business concerns and professionals with an interest in business and economic relations between India and The Netherlands. It came into being in 2003 as a result of the merger between the India Trade Council and the Indo Dutch Chamber of Commerce, both of which had functioned in The Netherlands for many years and had similar objectives & activities.

The Consumer Council of Fiji is a statutory consumer agency that promotes and lobbies for consumer rights and interests in the Fiji Islands.

Financial Conduct Authority British regulator

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is a financial regulatory body in the United Kingdom, but operates independently of the UK Government, and is financed by charging fees to members of the financial services industry. The FCA regulates financial firms providing services to consumers and maintains the integrity of the financial markets in the United Kingdom.

The Fiji Commerce Commission is a statutory organisation responsible for fair trade, competition (economics) and consumer protection regulation in the Fiji Islands. It was initially established in 1998 under the Commerce Act 1998 [Fiji]. The commission is an independent statutory body that seeks to protect consumers and businesses from restrictive and unfair trade practices. When it was established, the Commission was principally responsible for enforcing Fiji's competition policies and laws. It was modelled on the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. In 2010 the Fiji government passed the Commerce Commission Act 2010 which saw the Commission taken on extra responsibilities that notably included price control. Two of Fiji's regulatory agencies, the Department of Fair Trading & Consumer Affairs and the Prices & Incomes Board ceased to exist as separate entities following this new law. The functions, operations and staff of the two agencies are now merged into the Commerce Commission.

Premila Kumar Fijian politician

Premila Kumar is a Fijian politician and Member of the Parliament of Fiji. She is currently Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts and also for Local Government, Housing and Community Development.

Pockit British financial technology company

Pockit is a British financial technology company offering pre-paid spending cards, current accounts, and a range of other pseudo-bank financial services. The mobile-first service aims to make money simple for low-income 'unbanked' customers, with products and services tailored specifically for them.

References

  1. Fiji Sun, 'Consumer watchdog welcomes inquiry' http://www.fijisun.com.fj/main_page/view.asp?id=55527 Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Islands Business - Fiji Consumer Council wages war on financiers". www.islandsbusiness.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23.
  3. See in http://www.mediafire.com/?axfuigyr64dj6sm
  4. Fiji Times, 'Address health concerns on mobiles: Sukul' http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=94754
  5. Fiji Times, 'Exercise your rights: Sukul' http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=163259