The Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency (GCCA) says consumer rights applications more than doubled in the first half of the year, rising 112% compared to the same period last year.
The agency said it received 1,276 applications and 4,025 calls related to consumer protection during the reporting period.
It identified 162 violations across 417 cases and imposed fines on 75 traders in 198 cases. Total penalties reached 202,281 GEL.
The GCCA said it also signed 114 commitment agreements in 132 cases, under which traders agreed to change internal policies and compensate affected consumers.
Online trade dominated complaints, accounting for 70% of applications, while 30% were related to in-person purchases.
Tbilisi accounted for the largest share of complaints at 82%, followed by Adjara at 5%, Imereti at 4%, Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti at 2% each, and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti at 1%.
By category, 532 applications concerned refunds, 293 involved repair or replacement of defective goods, 291 related to poor service delivery, and 60 were about delayed delivery of goods. The remaining cases covered other issues.
By sector, wholesale and retail trade accounted for 70% of complaints, followed by transport and storage at 11%, arts, entertainment and recreation at 3%, and other sectors at 16%.
