Salons in Dubai must install automated cash registers

Dubai: Beauty salons in Dubai have been asked to install automated cash registers by the end of February 2017 as part of the “e-Cashier” campaign that aims to enhance transparency and eliminate fraud.

The campaign was launched by the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection (CCCP) sector at the Department of Economic Development (DED), which has asked all beauty salons in Dubai to protect consumer rights, following growing number of consumer complaints about price manipulation at beauty salons, especially during the holiday season.

The department has received more than 80 customer complaints against beauty salons this year.

Mohammad Rashid Ali Lootah, CEO of the CCCP sector at the DED, said a number of campaigns are being launched to ensure transparency and eliminate fraud.

He said many beauty salons were found to manipulate prices, particularly during the holiday season, to increase their profit. The campaign, he said, will prevent such manipulation and violations.

“The e-Cashier campaign will enhance neutrality and ease of doing business in line with the competitive and cordial business environment Dubai and the UAE in general seeks to promote,” he said.

The CCCP sector seeks to protect consumers and improve the level of services provided at the salons and beauty centres across Dubai, which are growing in numbers, Lootah said.

Abdul Aziz Al Tannak, director of Commercial Control Department at the DED, said it is important to eliminate negative practices to improve relations between businesses and consumers as well as to protect the health and safety of consumers.

Al Tannak said the DED will soon launch a series of campaigns to increase consumer awareness and educate owners of beauty salons, particularly on the need to maintain price lists and adhere to the highest international standards in customer service as well as to the consumer protection laws.

He asked consumers to report any violations they notice in beauty salons to the DED.

Adding that consumers should also ask for bills from salons so that they could be submitted along with any complaints they may have later.

If a salon refuses to issue a bill, the consumer should report it to the DED on the Ahlan Dubai number 600 54 5555 or the twitter handle @Dubai_consumers.