More than $4.2 million in refunds and compensation has been clawed back for consumers through complaints to the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) from April to June this year.

Dorothy Campbell, communications specialist at the CAC, said the funds were recovered from the top-five categories for refunds and compensation, namely electrical Equipment and Appliances ($1.8 million recovered); Furniture, (approximately $1.3 million recovered); Other Services ($605,000 recovered); Computers and Computer Parts ($321,600 recovered); and Utilities ($236,927 recovered).

In the meantime, Campbell said the Commission handled 1,815 complaints for the 2020-2021.

“When compared to the cases for the previous period, we have increased by about 10.3 per cent,” she told the Jamaica Information Service.

Campbell said the number does not include those complaints that are currently under investigation.

“Some complaints require lengthy investigations, possibly testing by another competent authority and or maybe documentation that we might require or legal review by our legal officer,” she said.

The money recovered is not kept by the CAC.

“All funds are collected on behalf of the consumer and are paid directly over to the consumer, whether as a refund or as compensation. We must underscore that point. It is the consumers’ tax dollar working for them,” Campbell said as she urged consumers to file a complaint if they feel something has gone wrong with the transaction, allowing the CAC to investigate.

The CAC is the national agency responsible for consumer advocacy. For further information, persons can call 876-906-5425 or email [email protected]