Azerbaijan, Baku, 28 January / Trend corr U. Ismayilova / The Azerbaijani population has increased its complaints of the public utilities, the head of the Azerbaijani Free Consumers' Union Eyyub Huseynov said on 28 January.
"In the last 2 days the Union has received over 20 complaints," he said. According to Huseynov, the complaints are mainly regarding the constant light and gas cuts, the setting of meters and the excessive levy charges for public utilities.
"The Union has tackled the problems mainly through negotiation without involving the court.
In 2007, the Union protected the consumer rights in court twice and won both cases.
According to Huseynov, the Union takes four steps to settle the problem: direct phone contact with the infringer of consumer rights, meeting of the Union's expert together with the violator, applying to the Consumer Market Control attached to the Economic Development Ministry and applying to court.
The Law on Protection of Consumers' Rights was passed in Azerbaijan in 1995. The Azerbaijani Free Consumers' Union is engaged in monitoring consumer markets to remove dangerous or goods unsuitable for use.