On 27th September 2024, the Commission commenced investigations against BAO Steel Limited on allegations of misleading conduct and unconscionable conduct. The investigations were instituted following a complaint.
The Complainant alleged that in June 2023, she made payment towards purchase of iron sheets from the Respondent at MK3,165,875. However, when the Complainant went to collect the iron sheets, the Respondent refused to supply the agreed number of sheets indicating that she could only collect half of the agreed quantity.
According to the Complainant, the Respondent stated that this was because the accountant with whom the Complainant had dealt with had left employment and took away the money that the Complainant had paid.
The investigations found that Complainant made changes on the type of the sheets that she was quoted for from IBR to Versatile, which has a higher price. It was therefore noted that the difference between the money paid for the IBR iron sheets and the cost of the Versatile iron sheets collected was K430, 000.00.
The Commission noted that the Respondent did not mislead the Complainant with regard to the price, quantity or quality of the iron sheets and that the Respondent did not act in a manner that was unreasonable.
Following deliberations, the Commission made the following orders:
- The Respondent to supply the Complainant with 29-gauge Versatile iron sheets equivalent to the remainder of the amount paid to purchase the iron sheets (MK430,000.00).
- In the alternative, the Respondent to refund the Complainant the amount of MK430,000.00 being the remainder of the amount paid to purchase the iron sheets.