Bills are due on July 1 and neighborhood users have reported a “rate hike” with increases of 1,333% in the “fixed charge” and have not been able to complain at the Gas NEA neighborhood office because it is closed.
The Director of Consumer Protection, Alejandro Garzón Maceda, has ordered the company to re-invoice the bill and said that consumers may not pay the disputed bill until the order is complied with.
He based his decision not only on consumer protection laws but also on the Constitution itself.
The head of the Consumer Protection Agency stated that “due to the situation that occurred in the Itaembe Guazú neighborhood of the city of Posadas in relation to a very significant increase in the gas service provided by the company Gas NEA, an attempt was made to contact the firm, but the offices were closed yesterday.”
He added that “due to the significant increase that could be seen with the documentation obtained, the Directorate of Domestic Trade dependent on the Ministry of Cooperative Action has ordered, in application of the provisions of the Consumer Protection Law, the immediate re-invoicing of all users in accordance with art. 31 within a period of five calendar days.
“Therefore, until the company carries out said rebilling, users may not pay the invoice corresponding to the 2024/6 period.
“If you have direct debit, you can request that the bank or credit card cancel the debit, if applicable, and the bank must accept the request.
“The measure is provisional in nature, subject to the actions that are processed ex officio due to alleged non-compliance with the consumer protection law,” he concluded.
