‘Report violations of shortchanging’

CEBU, Philippines - Consumers are encouraged to report retail stores that do not give the exact change to their customers.

Zaide Bation, consumer welfare head at the Department of Trade and Industry in Cebu, believes there are still retailers that do not give exact change nowadays despite the recent passage of the No Shortchanging Law or Republic Act 10909.

"So we need the consumers to trigger us on any shortchanging violation so we can do enforcement," she told The FREEMAN yesterday.

Last July 21, the Congress passed into law the bill mandating establishments to give exact change — loose bills and coins — to their consumers. The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law is still being worked on.

The No Shortchanging Act mandates businesses to provide exact change or excess change but not less than the amount due to the consumer.

The law also prohibits giving candies in lieu of monetary change.

Consumer Genevieve Fernandez, a 21-year-old marketing and research worker, hopes this law should be enforced.

"As per experience, I rarely receive exact change in my purchase especially centavos," she shared to The FREEMAN. "However, there are some stores who really give us the exact change."

She said cashiers should always prepare coins so they can give the exact change.

Cheche Lara, another consumer, also shared the same experience.

"Most of the time, I do not receive the exact change from almost all grocery stores that I go to," the 20-year-old marketing services officer said.

"I think that the No Shortchanging Act must be well implemented since it is every consumer's right. Since consumers ought to pay the exact amount of their purchases, they must also be given the exact loose change. Every centavo counts," Lara further shared.

For her part, Shine Gelbolingo, a government worker, said it has been her habit already to bring coins in her wallet, expecting that when she goes to a grocery store, the cashier would likely ask for them in giving the exact change.

"Nahimo na lang nako nga habit nga magbilin ug mag-ready always og mga tag-25 centavos sa akong coin purse," she said.

According to the law, businesses, ranging from vendors to corporations and government-owned entities, are not exempted from giving change just because they lack loose bills or coins.

Retail stores are likewise required to post a sign that reminds their customers to always ask for exact change.

The law says consumers can file a complaint not later than 10 working days after an establishment or seller refuses to give exact change.

Violators will be fined P500 for the first offense. Repeat offenders will be fined P15,000 and their license to operate will be suspended for three months.

A third offense will incur a P25,000-fine and the revocation of the violator's license to operate.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has said the lack of small change or centavo coins is due to the inefficient circulation of of coins and not because of shortage.

The central bank says businesses can go to their banks to ask for supply of coins. (FREEMAN)