1st October 24

A non-punitive exercise has been carried out to determine to what degree commercial establishments in Sitges are complying with the law in such areas as pricing displays & the use of Catalan. Results are mixed.

A hundred establishments in Sitges have participated this July in a campaign to assess and underline the minimum requirements mandated for commercial establishments, which must be provided to consumers. The campaign, requested by Sitges City Council from the Barcelona Provincial Council, aims to assess compliance with consumer regulations to guarantee, on the one hand, the right to information, and the another, the respecting of the rights of consumers on the part of establishments. The campaign, informative and not punitive, aims to make establishments aware of the need to provide better customer service.

Among the requirements that must be met is information about business hours (which must be displayed in a visible space) and availability of official complaint & claim forms (& signs announcing their availability). It is also necessary to indicate prices, both on items in shop window displays and inside. In addition, proof of payment must be given with all the necessary data. Finally, information about the establishment and the documentation it has available, must be – as a minimum – in Catalan.

In total, 100 establishments were visited in one of Sitges’ main commercial areas (carrer Major, Perellades and Sant Francesc).

Survey results:

The results graph below shows, for example, that a large number of establishments have official complaint or claim sheets (74).

Almost all display prices inside (91), but only 36 of the 77 establishments with a shop window also display them there. Also the vast majority (94) give appropriate receipts or invoices to consumers; 63 of them with all the necessary and mandatory information (business name; address; NIF of the owner or company; description of the products purchased; item and total price; and the date of purchase). All these data are crucial so that consumers can exercise their rights in case of need (guarantee, liability, validation in the face of a claim or complaint, etc.).

Poor results for opening hours and Catalan language

In contrast, almost half of the establishments (49) do not display opening hours or days, despite the fact that this information must be visible even when the business is closed. With regard to the use of Catalan in signage and fixed general information posters, 58 establishments do it correctly and 34 must adapt their information.

From 2025, the Municipal Office of Consumer Information will carry out informational activities aimed at the commercial sector, to follow up this campaign, and to continue to encourage compliance with the minimum requirements in consumer regulations

Adapted from the original here