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SINGAPORE: The government is strengthening the Consumer Protection Fair Trading Act to give consumers more protection against timeshare merchants.
Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan told Parliament on Monday that from April, the cooling-off period will be extended from the present three days to five days.
The measures will also extend to businesses that claim to help consumers resell their rights under timeshare contracts.
In addition, authorities are stipulating a 60-day refund period for contracts that are cancelled within the cooling-off period.
Mr Lee said the Police will investigate if there are allegations of cheating or other criminal offences.
However, he said the amendments will not cover the beauty industry, which some MPs had called for, because consumers who fall victim to high pressure selling already have clear recourse under the current Act.
Mr Lee added that facial products and slimming treatments are neither complex nor hard to understand.
He said: "The best protection for consumers is still founded on their ability to discern the best deals for themselves, being vigilant to any unrealistic promises and to walk away from pressure selling with (sic) bath towel or otherwise."
On the progress of the so-called Lemon Law Taskforce, Mr Lee said the taskforce is nearing completion of its work and will make formal recommendations shortly.
A 'lemon law' aims to protect consumers against products with latent defects, known colloquially as 'lemons'. The taskforce is co-chaired by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), the Trade and Industry Ministry and representatives from industries.
- CNA/ir
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