Pregnant mothers complain about purchases, will they get priority resolution?

Ms. Mai asked: In this case, is the pregnant woman considered a “vulnerable consumer” and given priority when requesting protection of her rights?

Reply:

* Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 8 of the Law on Consumer Protection 2023, it is stipulated as follows:
Protecting the rights of vulnerable consumers
1. Vulnerable consumers are consumers who are likely to suffer many adverse impacts on access to information, health, property, and dispute resolution at the time of purchasing or using products, goods, and services, including:
a) Elderly people according to the provisions of law on the elderly;
b) Persons with disabilities as prescribed by law on persons with disabilities;
c) Children as prescribed by law on children;
d) Ethnic minorities; people living in ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, islands, areas with difficult socio-economic conditions, areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions as prescribed by law;
d) Women who are pregnant or nursing children under 36 months old;
e) People with serious illnesses as prescribed by law;
g) Members of poor households as prescribed by law.
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* Pursuant to Point c, Clause 1, Article 8 of the Law on Consumer Protection 2023, it is stipulated as follows:
Protecting the rights of vulnerable consumers
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2. Protection of vulnerable consumer rights is carried out as follows:
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c) When a vulnerable consumer requests protection with evidence and documents proving that he/she is a vulnerable consumer and that his/her rights have been violated, the business organization or individual must give priority to receiving and processing the consumer's request and not forward it to a third party for settlement, unless the third party has related obligations. In case of refusing to settle the request of a vulnerable consumer, the business organization or individual must respond in writing, clearly stating the legal basis and the inconsistency with the content of the published policy as prescribed in Clause 3 of this Article;
d) Business organizations and individuals must compensate for damages according to the provisions of civil law for vulnerable consumers in case of delay, refusal to give priority or refusal to receive and process consumer requests according to the provisions of Point c of this Clause;
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Thus, pregnant women are identified as vulnerable consumers. They are consumers who are likely to suffer many adverse impacts on access to information, health, property, and dispute resolution at the time of purchasing or using products, goods, and services.

Pregnant women – when there is a request for protection of their rights with evidence – are given priority in resolving and protecting according to the law. Delay or refusal to process their request may result in considered a breach of the obligation to protect vulnerable consumers.