Citizens whose electrical appliances are broken are in trouble with fake authorized services. Citizens whose white goods are broken can come across unauthorized technical services in their searches on the internet. This can lead to wrong repairs in return for high amounts and even theft. Moreover, fake services can be ranked high by advertising on search engines. Since broker numbers usually start with 444, citizens trust these people and give them their home addresses and deliver the products. Marmara University Faculty of Communication Visual Communication Design Department Head and Digital Communication Expert Prof. Dr. Ali Murat Kırık said that in order not to fall into the traps of fake services, the branded product should be It is recommended to check the list of authorized services on the official website. Another method is to call the brand’s customer service.
CHECK DOCUMENTS
Kırık emphasized that one should be careful while receiving service, saying, “When the service personnel arrive, check their IDs and authorization documents. If you come across an unauthorized service, refuse to receive service and report the situation to the customer service of the relevant brand. Also, If possible, have your device repaired in front of you during the repair process and ask for old parts back when replacing parts. These simple but effective steps will prevent your money from going to waste and will ensure that your device is repaired safely. You can be sure whether the services are real or not by using the ‘authorized service inquiry’ section of the www.servis.gov.tr website, which is open to citizens,” he said.
QUERY FROM THE SYSTEM
Consumer Confederation Deputy Chairman İbrahim Güllü made the following warnings: “Our laws have made it mandatory for all authorized service stations to be registered in the Ministry of Trade system and for unauthorized ones to use the term private service in their promotions in order to prevent consumers from suffering due to fake services. In this way, it is aimed to prevent consumers from suffering due to fake services.”
THE WAY TO COMPLAINT IS OPEN
Güllü also provided information on the changes made in the legislation: “In order to prevent unauthorized, i.e. private services from giving the impression of being authorized services, it has been made mandatory to use the term private service in all kinds of promotions and activities such as service receipts, signs and brochures. Consumers can find out the authorized service closest to their location by entering the Ministry’s Service Information System, regardless of the brand.”
“Although there is a regulation stating that it is a private service, some fraudsters may not comply with this. Consumers must definitely complain about these businesses to the Ministry so that necessary sanctions can be applied to them.“, so that other consumers do not suffer. The duty of the consumer is to be conscious and careful, and to choose authorized services from the system established by the Ministry.”
THEY CAN STEAL THE ORIGINAL
Güllü, who continues his warnings against fake businesses that present themselves as authorized technical services, said, “Those who take the consumer’s product and leave and never bring it back, those who come to the house and remove the original part and replace it with a used part, and those who produce temporary solutions for the product and cause it to break down in a short time. You can also file a criminal complaint for fraud with the Public Prosecutor’s Office. “In addition, the advertisements and announcements made by the unauthorized service as if they were authorized should be reported to the Advertisement Board within the Ministry of Trade via e-government,” he said.
(email protected)
