Council discovered fraud and deception cases as well as non-compliance with laws and violation of consumer rights
The E-Commerce Council underscored the importance for applying for a business registration certificate for individuals who are engaged in e-commerce activities in order for them to continue practicing legally. The Council urged them to respect consumer rights.
A business registration certificate can be electronically issued at (e.mc.gov.sa.). If the applicant's business activity necessitates a license from another government entity, the applicant must meet those requirements as well.
The Council emphasized that this step is intended to increase the trustworthiness of e-commerce transactions, defend consumer and merchant rights, and eradicate counterfeit businesses. The Ministry of Commerce has recently discovered cases of non-compliance and violation of consumer rights, let alone fraudulent practices perpetrated by some stores run by individuals "who do not have a registration certificate."
According to the Council, the stores that have received a registration certificate must implement the following 13 standards of reliability in e-commerce, namely:
- Have a contact number for communication;
- Have an email;
- Provide a chat option;
- Provide secure electronic payment through official banking channels;
- Enable the consumer to lodge a complaint online;
- Enable the consumer to lodge a complaint via social media;
- Disclose the exact time to respond to a complaint;
- Disclose the exact time for processing a complaint;
- Disclose the exact time of delivery before completing the purchase and indicate this information in the invoice;
- The store supports the Arabic language as an option for filing a complaint;
- Use Arabic in chat;
- Display products in Arabic;
- Have a clear and written return or refund policy.