After entering the eurozone, human rights activists in Latvia are flooded by numerous complaints about the wrong currency conversion and consumer prices inflation. It was reported by Interfax on Friday, January 3.
The news agency notes that in the first three days of 2014, the consumer rights protection center recorded three times more claims related to the euro than the number of similar claims submitted in Estonia for the whole period of using the euro since 2011. In most cases, claims are based on real facts. Reported breaches of consumer rights have been proved to be true in 78% cases.
Apart from the price inflation and the wrong currency conversion, the Latvians grumble at individual retailers who do not attach prices in lats and euros; both currencies are currently valid in the country.
On January 1, 2014 Latvia joined the euro area and became the bloc’s 18th member. Currently, the Baltic country is going through the switchover period when payments for the goods can be carried out both in the euro and lat. However, checkout cashiers will be handing customers a change only in euros. The transitional period is expected to last until January 14, 2014. After that, only euros will remain in circulation.
