The role of eCommerce and online businesses has grown exponentially. To ensure fair trade practices, protect consumers' rights, and foster trust in the online marketplace, the Philippine government created Republic Act No. 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

The Consumer Act of the Philippines plays a crucial role in shaping the landscape for online business owners. By promoting fair trade practices, consumer protection, and ethical conduct, the Act creates a conducive environment for eCommerce to thrive while ensuring the rights and well-being of consumers. Online businesses that adhere to the provisions of this Act are not only abiding by the law but also building a foundation of trust and integrity in the dynamic world of digital commerce.

While these practices have surely been enacted by all merchants, ChatGenie takes further steps to ensure that every In-App Store is complying with every section of the law. In accordance with the Consumer Act, all MDR fees are required to be included in all prices. As this mandate was imposed on April 2021, after ChatGenie's launch on March 2020, we have previously allowed it to be an optional setting. However, this is already being strictly enforced so compliance is necessary.

In Section 2 of the Consumer Act, merchants are required to keep selling prices consistent regardless of the mode of payment.

“The guidelines specify that there should be no additional charge on the selling price if the mode of payment is through debit/credit/prepaid cards, QR codes, electronic fund transfers, or other digital means available, as preferred by the buyer.”

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To make complying with this section easier, the latest ChatGenie Dashboard feature allows users to tuck in all MDR fees to their prices with a single click. If you haven’t included your MDR fees in product prices yet, learn more about why and how to do it here: https://chatgenie.ph/post/streamlining-product-pricing-to-reduce-friction-in-online-payment-options

Read more about the Consumer Act of the Philippines here: https://www.dti.gov.ph/archives/guidelines-on-payment-options/

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