Dubai:The Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector in Dubai Economy has taken stern action against a website that offered specialised courses without a licence.

The unauthorised website was monitored and penalised by the CCCP as part of the efforts to streamline and regulate e-commerce. The CCCP aims to protect the rights of vendors as well as consumers and ensure transparency and competitiveness across business activities in Dubai.

In addition to the fine for the violation, the CCCP has asked the website to remove all its content with immediate effect. It has also fined the hotel that hosted the course programme without verifying the authenticity of the website or its capability to conduct the programme, for violating commercial rules and regulations.

The website had invited individuals and companies to attend various specialised courses and offered to provide certificates for the same too. Our investigation showed that not only that the website was unauthorised but also that the certificates were unaccredited and the lecturer was not qualified to conduct the course, said Mahir Al Marzouqi, Head of Electronic Compliance section.

He added the closure of the website resulted in the suspension of around 600 courses, which were planned to roll out. With five slots in each course the total fees collected would have reached around Dh33 million. We have managed to protect thousands of consumers, enhancing Dubais reputation as a safe destination for purchasing goods as well as services, said Al Marzouqi.

He pointed out its the responsibility of hotels hosting such programmes to ensure that the organiser is licensed and qualified for the activity.

The CCCP sector handles complaints relating to e-procurement and websites with the same importance seriousness we accord to issues linked to conventional business activities. Websites and service providers soliciting business in Dubai should provide contact numbers that consumers can use to file complaints or report issues. Consumers can also contact us on the Ahlan Dubai number 600 54 5555 for complaints and enquiries, added Al Marzouqi.

Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2017. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).