“No interest” fees: Mercado Libre is charged with deceptive advertising

Ang National Director for Consumer Protection, owned by the Secretary of Domestic Trade, he focused his vision on Mercado Libre and several publications in his market that he accused of “misleading advertising” by advertising products in “interest-free installments” which results in having a higher value than similar publications in one payment.

As the agency explained in a statement, the publications of 16 sellers inside the platform. Based on an ex officio investigation, the public body found that many products were promoted with the possibility of paying interest-free installments. they will have twin publication of the same product and from the same supplier, but there is no possibility to pay installments without interest, whose amount of money is less.

The investigation was done between February and March latest. They found that, within the ecommerce page, offers messages and expressions such as “I discovered a universe of discounts up to 40% – up to 12x no interest” or “up to 50% discount and 12x no interest”among others.

Now, there is the Mercado Libre five days to clarify the situation and if not, they will be applied fines of up to $ 5 million.

“In this way, consumers are led to believe that the possibility of paying for products in installments without interest is offered, if this is not true because publications will have a higher price in installments“, they explain to Consumer Protection.

At the same time, they warn that this practice is likely to be violated two articles of law Consumer Protection, which refers to aninaw when stating the terms and conditions of a promotion.

“The right to information implies that the consumer should be informed in a specific, detailed and realistic way on the features of the product or service offered, so that you can freely decide and justify whether you want to access it or not, ”the agency said in a press release.

“The Ministry of Internal Trade aims to change systematic practices that violate the rights of consumers and protect consumer relationships“, detailed the organism.

NE