Onishchenko urged to improve literacy

Russian citizens are poorly aware of their financial rights. They usually do not read labels on food products and require credit agreement "with their eyes closed." This was stated by RIA Novosti news agency on the eve of World Day for the Protection of Consumer Rights, celebrated on March 15, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, chief state sanitary doctor, Gennady Onishchenko, Russia. "The problems faced by people in the economy, they primarily spoke financial services - those loans that people took to the banks," - he said. Bank doing everything possible to be safe, they are being prescribed in the contracts such items that do not attract the attention of the ordinary borrower, but, in fact, the amount of debt in regularly pays its borrower, not only does not decrease but even increases. In addition, banks often forced customers to incur additional expenses to pay for services such as life insurance for a large amount of the loan, for opening and maintaining the loan account, said Onishchenko. At the same time, he stressed that his department was able to establish good working relations with banks. "We're seeing some momentum: from total denial Rospotrebnadzor as a service, which positions itself in the financial services market to a normal dialogue with the banks," - said Onishchenko. He recalled that the Presidium of the Supreme Arbitration Court on March 2 ruling in favor of borrowers against ZAO "Russian Bank for Development". The Court confirmed the inadmissibility of the practice of unilateral change in terms of the loan agreement, the application of contractual penalties for violation of the borrower due. "The Russians would like to wish to remember their consumer rights, not only on this day (March 15), but at other times of the year. And not only remember, but to be able to use them wisely," - said Onishchenko. "We should be able to defend them, in time to see the likely costs and know where to go," - he added. Under the patronage of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation with the World Bank in June will launch a project to enhance financial literacy that will work for a few years. Speaking of complaints received by the Federal Service in 2009, Onishchenko said that more than 60% of them concerned the rights of consumers. Most Russians have problems with quality appliances. Then there are food products. According to Onishchenko, in the service sector by the number of complaints leading housing and communal complex - almost 70% of the cases. Then there are the financial services, communications services, catering, travel services, medical services.