Description of campaign:
They rarely fight for their rights, are reluctant to file complaints, usually do not read contracts and – in effect – their trust is often used by unfair entrepreneurs – the third age consumers – were the target of an educational campaign conducted by the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK). The campaign “Be an aware consumer” took place from 14 November to 12 December 2011 and included 91 free-of-charge lectures conducted in 15 voivodships, attended by total of 4647 seniors. The lectures were divided into two parts: one being a presentation of information on consumer rights by consumer experts and other – more practical one – presenting threats senior consumers may face from rogue traders conducted by psychologists or policemen. The lectures were held in seniors’ clubs, community homes, at the third age universities and other public places gathering elderly people (e.g. parish offices). All the lectures’ participants received publications on consumer law: brochure, leaflet and calendar for 2012.
This campaign was a continuation of a pilot project run by UOKiK in 2008. Due to insufficient knowledge about their rights seniors are still weaker part when dealing with entrepreneurs. "Therefore, the Office does not forget about elderly consumers. On the one hand we create an appropriate environment to help young people develop their wings, enable development of entrepreneurship and fair competition, and on the other hand we do not forget about weaker market participants, mostly seniors", said Małgorzata Krasnodębska-Tomkiel, UOKiK President.