The Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud department at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has reached an agreement with companies over uniform contracts for rental and equipment of wedding halls and tents.
The uniform contract protects the rights of all stakeholders in line with applicable laws, and outlines the rights and obligations of all parties in a clear manner.
The agreed-upon provisions were included in three types of contracts: a wedding hall rental contract; a wedding hall equipment contract; and a tent rental and supplies contract, in addition to a service delivery report for each contract, the MEC said yesterday in statement.
The Ministry said providers of rental and equipment services for wedding halls and tents will have to comply with the new approved contracts within a period of three months from April 1 to July 1, 2017.
Competent authorities at the Ministry will monitor the compliance of offices specialized in the rental and equipment of wedding halls and tents with their obligations as per the approved contracts as well as the provisions and regulations of Law No. (8) on Consumer Protection and its executive regulations. Legal action will be taken against companies that fail to comply with these provisions said the ministry.
The agreement was reached after taking into consideration the feedback of companies that participated in the meetings organized by the concerned department. The Consumer Protection department has held a series of meetings with companies specialized in renting and equipping wedding halls and tents.
Representatives of companies provided their written approval and signed on the uniform contracts and delivery reports, reflecting their commitment to the Ministry’s vision to unify procedure in this sector said the ministry.
In later stage companies will be permitted to “contract approved by the MEC” in accordance with a pre-determined format, which represents proof to clients that the involved provider of rental and equipment services for wedding hall and tents complies with the provisions and regulations of law number (8) of 2009 on Consumer Protection.
The initiative has come as part of the ministry’s efforts to enhance legal protection for consumers in accordance with the provisions of Law No. (8) of 2008 on Consumer Protection and in light of recurring controversies observed in the complaints of consumers that have dealt with providers of rental and equipment services for wedding halls and tents regarding the quality of services provided to clients.
It also aims to spare service providers specialized in the rental and equipment of wedding hall and tents the legal repercussions of violating the provisions of Article (24) of Law No. (8) of 2008.
Article 24 invalidates any provision stipulated in contracts or related documents signed with consumers if such provisions exempt the service provider from its legal commitments in line with the Consumer Protection law.
The adoption of service delivery reports is intended to prove the delivery of a service as agreed upon at the time of the contract signature. Consumers may also note their objection or comments when it comes to services they believe were not delivered as required.
The Ministry urged other providers who are specialized in the same activity and have yet to discuss their contracts with the competent administrative departments to communicate with the Ministry to verify and approve the legal provisions in their contracts and related documents.
The Ministry also stresses that service providers have a duty to include the provisions and regulations of Law No. (8) on Consumer Protection in all contracts to be signed with clients in order to avoid controversies that may arise with clients in the absence of clear mechanisms or due to violations of applicable laws.
The Ministry also urged all beneficiaries of rental and equipment services for wedding hall and tents to adopt contracts that are approved by competent authorities and include the expression “contract approved by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce”.
Clients should also ensure the compliance of service providers with the services and specifications agreed upon before signing the delivery report. Once agreed upon, the specifications become binding for both signatories of the contract, and each party should comply with them.
In the event of dealing with offices that do not adopt contracts approved by the Ministry, the consumer is responsible for verifying the provisions of the contract and related documents before signing them, as well as taking the necessary precautions and refraining from signing until clarifications are given concerning ambiguous services and non-compliant legal provisions.
