MAJORITY OF ARMENIAN CONSUMERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS, CRP
CHAIRMAN SAYS

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. A sociological survey conducted under
the program "Social Initiative on Consumer Rights Protection in
Armenia’s Public Service Sector" has identified the public service
sector’s problems that most concern citizens. Abgar Eghoyan, Chairman
of the Consumer Rights Protection (CRP) NGO, stated this during the
August 11 press conference. According to him, consumers are mainly
concerned with issues related to gas, water, electricity supply and
telecommunications. "There are numerous complaints about the low
quality of Internet connection service provision, especially regarding
bills sent against services that were not delivered," A. Eghoyan
said. The survey revealed that the majority of Armenian consumers are
not aware of their rights. Particularly, most of them are not
informed about tariffs of gas supply network installation in their
houses or apartments. A. Eghoyan said that in order to fill this gap,
with the assistance of the Eurasia Foundation the CRP has implemented
a program of measures aimed at informing the population. A "Consumer
Guide" was published, posters with information about water, gas and
electricity supply and telecommunication were put up at minicipalities,
condominiums and some banks’ branches. Thanks to a hot line at the
CRP, consumers can get free advice. "Consumer Guide: Book 2" was
published by CRP’s Civil Interests Protection Assistance Program
jointly with Counterpart International, it is distributed free of
charge. The book contains examples of applications, complaints and
claims, as well as information about the appropriate state bodies and
organizations.