KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Consumer Claims Tribunal received 85 cases against auto workshop operators for fraud amounting to RM446,262.28, as at July 31.
Its chairman, Wan Rufaidah Wan Omar, in a Radio Bernama programme, Dalam Radar here, stressed that it was up to consumers to take action to avoid being cheated.
Consumers, she said, should insist prior to any job to be done on their vehicle, for a quotation from the operator of the workshop, on the amount they have to fork out for labour cost or spare parts replacement.
"Consumers have the right to ask for information on what is wrong with their vehicle before agreeing to let the workshop carry out any repair.
"Consumers also have the right to get a full explanation on the components that had been replaced. The workshop must inform the vehicle owners whether the spare parts are original, new, second-hand or reconditioned," she said.
Meanwhile, Wan Rufaidah said the tribunal would accept all cases involving authorised service centres or private workshops.
"However, the tribunal will only accept cases seeking compensation for goods and services that do not exceed RM25,000, and the cases must not exceed three years from the date of the initial complaint," she added.
The tribunal is an independent body established under Section 85, Part XII of the Consumer Protection Act 1999. It operates under the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.
The tribunal's primary objective is to provide an alternative forum for consumers to file compensatory claims in a simple, inexpensive and speedy manner.
