
By The Star Staff
The Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO by its acronym in Spanish) has requested information from four companies allegedly engaging in commercial discrimination practices against consumers in Puerto Rico, Interim DACO Secretary Francisco González de la Matta announced Thursday.
The entities from which information has been requested are Dyson, Paypal, JBL and Mastercard. The new series of requests is added to previous efforts by DACO with other multinationals to ensure that consumers on the island receive fair and equitable treatment in the market.
“These requests for information are a key tool within our strategy to combat commercial discrimination,” González de la Matta said. “Through these requests, we seek to ensure that multinational companies comply with regulations that guarantee fair treatment for Puerto Rican consumers. It is unacceptable that there are geographic limitations that deny Puerto Ricans access to products or services that should be available without restrictions.”
In the first two rounds of information requests, DACO has already requested data from eight companies, including Apple, Yeti, Microsoft, TikTok, Samsung, Sony, H&M and Nike. So far, all companies have responded, although Yeti, Nike and Sony did so late, for which they will be fined between $10,000 and $30,000. Additionally, Apple, Tik Tok, Samsung and Nike have been granted additional time to provide the necessary information.
“The objective of these requests is clear: to ensure that consumers in Puerto Rico do not suffer discrimination in access to goods and services,” added González de la Matta, who is an attorney. “Not only do we demand compliance, but we are also receiving proactive approaches from companies seeking to collaborate and discuss solutions, so I am sure that this exercise will have results that will benefit consumers on the island.”
The four companies from which data was most recently requested have 10 days to respond. Failure to comply could lead to sanctions of $10,000 per day. The Office of Commercial Anti-Discrimination was reactivated by González de la Matta in September and, so far, 12 companies have been required to provide data for commercial discrimination practices against consumers on the island.
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