SIC sanctions 24 funeral service providers for infringing the rights of consumers

The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) of Colombia, as National Authority for Consumer Protection, fines 24 funeral service providers, for a total amount of $294,000,000 COP, approximately 74.000 USD, for consumer protection infringements that included: 

• Not answering requests for information issued by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce. 
• Failure to provide consumers clear, timely and sufficient information regarding the restrictions and limitations of the funeral services during the pandemic. 
• Misleading advertising, by offering consumers their funeral services in a particular city, when in fact they did not have offices open to the public. 
• Include abusive contractual clauses, by demanding consumers more requirements in order to dismiss the contract, than those requested at the time of signing it, and also for adopting blank spaces. 

At the time of the pandemic, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce launched administrative actions, with the aim to guarantee the consumer’s rights protection against possible abuses in relation to the provided information about the modifications and restrictions of the funeral services, due to the Covid-19 biosecurity measures implemented for the management of corpses, as well as additional and excessive charges for consumers.