Carrefour fined for 20-minute wait

Customer complains after shop did not keep its 10-minute promise at the checkouts - €10,000 fine

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A CARREFOUR supermarket has been fined €10,000 after a customer spent 20 minutes in the check-out queue – when the company was advertising a maximum 10-minute wait.

The shop was accused by the customer of “false advertising” when he complained to local consumer protection officials in 2008.

An inquiry was launched against the shop, in Chalons-en-Champagne (Marne), and three others in the same area after complaints from other customers.

Carrefour had been running an advertising campaign since 2006 with its 10-minute check-out guarantee after saying that delays were the No1 source of complaint with supermarket customers.

Consumer protection officials took the Chalons shop to court in Evry, Essonne, where it was found guilty of misleading advertising.

It is thought Carrefour is to lodge an appeal.
Photo: PRA Wikimedia

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