Polish company charged with record-high penalty for cheating seniors
Fot. HighwayStarz/123rf
In Poland, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) imposed a fine of almost 4 million PLN (more than 920.000 euros) on Exito from Opalenica for deceiving customers, in particular older customers. This is the highest penalty in history that a dishonest direct-selling company is charged with.
Exito sells on shows products such as healing mats, massage devices, kitchen robots, air purifiers,etc. The offer is mostly addressed to seniors.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection started proceedings against the dishonest entrepreneur last May after it has been receiving complaints from injured clients for a year.
This sentence shows that Poland takes the abuse of older customers seriously. It sends a clear signal to companies that, at a time when the increasing senior population is seen as a juicy market, vulnerable citizens need strong protection from abusive commercial practice.
