1998 – 2002 Reports


STATISTICAL REPORT ON CASES RECEIVED, INVESTIGATED AND RESOLVED

The table below shows the number of cases received, investigated and closed by the Fair Trading Commission during the calendar year 2002.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Received Investigated Resolved
Airline Services 3 20 6
Apparel & Accessories/ Footwear 13 24 16
Appliances 91 163 84
Auto Parts & Supplies 6 18 19
Banking/Credit Card 9 16 10
Cable Services 0 0 0
Cellular Phones 4 26 14
Computers 39 79 45
Educational Institutions 21 29 10
Financial Services 0 0 0
Food & Beverages 9 24 11
Furniture 39 60 29
Hardware & Household Fixtures 5 14 6
Internet 0 1 1
Insurance 17 14 12
Lotteries 0 1 1
Machine & Equipment 4 16 9
Motor Vehicle & Bikes 161 289 151
Office Equipment 7 12 6
Petroleum 4 7 3
Professional Services 43 64 29
Real Estate 11 20 14
Telecommunications 61 78 43
Transportation 9 11 7
Utilities 5 8 5
Other 51 106 62
TOTAL 602 1100 583

 Notes

  1. Insurance includes Life, Health and Motor Vehicle Insurance
  2. Other includes product areas such as Agriculture, Consumer Welfare, Health, Pharmaceuticals and Optometry. It also includes categories not listed in CCM (eg. Government Services)

A review of the year 2002 indicates that a total of 602 cases were received, 1,100 cases were investigated and 583 cases were closed. The highest volumes of complaints related to the product areas indicated in the pie chart and table below. ‘Motor Vehicles and Bikes’ accounted for 25% of the total number of cases investigated; ‘Appliances’ for 14%; ‘Computers’ and ‘Telecommunications’ each accounting for 7% and; ‘Professional Service’ and ‘Furniture’ each accounting for 5%.

The category ‘Other’ includes product areas such as Agriculture, Consumer Welfare, Health, Pharmaceuticals, Optometry and Government Services.

PRODUCTS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASES INVESTIGATED DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 2002

Products And Services Cases Investigated
Motor Vehicle & Bikes 289
Appliances 163
Computers 79
Telecommunications 78
Professional Services 64
Furniture 60
Other 445
TOTAL 1100

In relation to other years, the total number of cases increased dramatically between 2001 and 2002 (see table below). Whereas there was a 4% increase in cases investigated between 2000 and 2001 (702 to 729), there was a 51% increase between 2001 and 2002 (729 to 1100). 

CASES INVESTIGATED FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 2000-2002

Products And Services Cases Investigated 2000 Cases Investigated 2001 Cases Investigated 2002
Motor Vehicle & Bikes 129 167 289
Appliances 83 103 163
Computers 61 57 79
Telecommunications 23 26 78
Professional Services 17 31 64
Furniture 29 30 60
Other 360 315 445
TOTAL 702 729 1100

A closer look at the percentage changes in the number of cases investigated over this three-year period indicates that in some categories, the increase was quite significant (see table below). For example between the years 2001-2002, the number of ‘Motor Vehicle and Bikes’ cases received increased by 73% as compared to 29% in the previous period; ‘Telecommunications’, increased by 200% as compared to 13% in the previous period; ‘Professional Services’, increased by 106% as compared to 82% in the previous period and; ‘Furniture’, increased by 100% as compared to 3% in the previous period. 

PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES INVESTIGATED FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 2000-2002

Products And Services Change between 2000-2001 Change between 2001-2002
Motor Vehicle & Bikes 29% 73%
Applicances 24% 58%
Computers -7% 39%
Telecommunications 13% 200%
Professional Services 82% 106%
Furniture 3% 100%
Other -13% 41%
TOTAL 4% 51%

The statistics indicate that calendar year 2002 has accounted for the highest number of cases received by the FTC, since its inception. The table below shows the number of cases received, investigated and closed as well as the corresponding resolution rate for the last five years. The resolution rate has improved from 31% during the year 2001 to 53% in the year 2002. In fact, the FTC closed 250% more cases during the period 2002 than in the previous period (from 231 cases in 2001 to 583 in 2002). Although there was a higher resolution rate in 1998 and 2000 than in the year 2002, more cases were closed in 2002 than in those earlier years.

CASES RECEIVED, INVESTIGATED AND CLOSED FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS 1998-2002

Year Received Investigated Closed Resolution rate
1998 430 802 540 67%
1999 349 611 280 46%
2000 371 702 458 65%
2001 485 729 231 31%
2002 602 1100 583 53%