Commission for Consumer Protection Fines Two Retail Chains €75,000 for Unfair Commercial Practices

The Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) has decided to impose penalties on two major retail chains for established unfair commercial practices, the Commission announced.

The penalties total €75,000 and apply to three outlets belonging to the two retail chains, with each fine set at the maximum amount permitted by law.

The reports concern the section on “Unfair Commercial Practices” of the Consumer Protection Act. Inspectors found discrepancies between the prices displayed on labels and those charged at the checkout for the same products, as well as the incorrect indication of the country of origin of fruit and vegetables offered for sale by one of the chains. The violations at its outlets were identified on 22 and 25 October 2026.

On 22 October, CCP inspectors also found that an outlet belonging to another major retail chain was selling products whose prices on the labels differed from the prices customers were charged at the checkout.

The Commission also decided to impose penalties for unfair commercial practices on traders for distributing imitation products; providing misleading information in advertising leaflets for restaurants and other food establishments, tour operators, tourist attractions and a hotel; offering fake “last-minute” deals with promotional prices and fuel surcharges for travel; and violations by a trader involving the early repayment of a consumer loan, among other offences.

The CCP reminds consumers that its hotline is 0700 111 22. Its public reception office for submitting complaints in Sofia is located at 1 Vrabcha Street and is open from 9:00 to 17:30.

Consumers outside the capital can also submit complaints to the CCP’s regional offices across the country. Their addresses are published on the Commission’s website.