Ten consumer issues the elderly and people around them should keep in mind

Among consumer issues reported to local consumer affairs centers and the like across Japan, NCAC has chosen ten common issues that the elderly and people around them should keep in mind. Here NCAC would like to share them in tribute to the Respect-for-Senior-Citizens Day (Monday, September 19).

Latest ten consumer issues the elderly and people around them should keep in mind

1. Home repair service (e.g. roof, exterior wall, plumbing)
2. Insurance claim support service (Sellers induce consumers to order home repair service with use of insurance.)
3. Switching providers (e.g. Internet, phone, electricity, gas)
4. Smartphone (e.g. difficulty in using smartphone, expensive charge)
5. Unexpected subscription (e.g. health food, cosmetics, medical products)
6. Fraud under the guise of PC support service
7. Billing fraud, fake emails, fake SMS messages
8. Sudden door-to-door sales and telemarketing when staying home
9. Emotional solicitation (Sellers fuel consumers' anxiety or play on consumers' sympathy and affection.)
10. Convenient but risky online shopping

If the need arises, consult your local consumer affairs center!

If you have a concern or are in trouble about a contract, consult your local consumer affairs center as soon as possible.

Any consumer might encounter trouble. Be prepared instead of thinking "It will never happen to me." Look to various kinds of trouble experienced by consumers on a daily basis.

Family members, home helpers and staff members of community general support centers can also access local consumer affairs centers and consult about the elderly nearby. If you suspect that any elderly person nearby might be in trouble, consult your local consumer affairs center as soon as possible. In order to prevent the elderly from trouble, it is very important that people nearby watch over the elderly and notice any change in actions. Discuss responses and check where to consult before there is a suspicious phone call or visitor.

Checklist for watching over the elderly to prevent consumer problems

In and around the house

• Has any stranger visited the house?
• Has the resident received a suspicious phone call?
• Are there an increasing number of unfamiliar or unused goods in the house?
• Are there any suspicious documents (e.g. estimate, contract) or name cards?
• Are there any sign of suspicious repair work or renovation on the roof, walls or around telephone equipment?
• Are there any unfamiliar things written on a calendar, such as company name?

Behavior of the resident

• Does the resident seem to regularly make payment to somewhere?
• Does the resident seem to be short of money for living expenses?
• How about cognitive capacity? Does the resident remember buying goods?

• Checklist for watching over the elderly to prevent consumer problems (Japanese version)[PDF](519KB)