Is shopping unsustainable? How to report high prices

Here you are how to report prices that are too high, when the expense becomes unsustainable.

To protect consumers, the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT) has made available the “Report Prices” tool.

This is one free tool which allows the consumer to report the prices of consumer goods deemed anomalousi.e. higher than what one would expect.

In this article we explain how to report prices that are too highhow the reporting mechanism works and when it can be used.

WHAT IS THE “PRICE REPORT”

The “Report Prices” is the MIMIT tool that allows consumers to report anomalous prices of consumer goods, i.e. when they are higher than would be expected under normal circumstances. This tool therefore allows, when the costs of spending become unsustainable, to report possible abuse completely free of charge.

Let’s find out how it works and how to report shopping prices when you think they are too high.

HOW TO REPORT TOO HIGH PRICES

Thanks to the MIMIT service, it is possible to report prices that are too high for your shopping directly online. The operation of the “price report” is simple, just fill in the appropriate online form by entering your name, surname and email address. After this step, in the indicated inbox you will receive a confirmation link which you must open to continue reporting.

From here, you then need to:

• select the product category you want to report and briefly describe the product;

• write if you bought it online or in a physical store. In the second case it is advisable to specify the region, city and name of the business where the purchase was made;

• enter the price paid in numerical values ​​and specify further references in the following fields. You must also indicate whether the price indicated above refers to one unit or one pack; to the sales unit of measurement, e.g. liter, kg, etc;

• select the purchase date;

• insert a brief description of the case and other notes;

• attach the receipt or other tax documents, if not photographs or scans of flyers;

• sign that you have read the information on the processing of personal data pursuant to article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

At that point you can send the report to allow checks, even jointly, between the Ministry and the competent authorities. The information may also be used to support the Guarantor’s activity for price surveillance. The procedure is absolutely free.

Now, let’s see how to monitor and analyze shopping prices with the help of some tools made available by Italian institutions.

HOW TO ANALYZE YOUR EXPENDITURE COSTS

In addition to the “Report Prices”, MIMIT also provides other tools to analyze and monitor the costs of spending. We are talking about the following bodies:

• there Early warning commission for price surveillance which, in collaboration with ISMEA, Unioncamere-BMTI and ISTAT, monitors the prices along the agri-food chain taking into account the main cost factors (origin, wholesale and retail). The objective is to avoid abuses in the supply chains examined. Initially the sectors monitored were those of production and sale of rice and cereals, milk and eggs, oils and fats, fruit and vegetables. On 9 April 2024, as explained in this press note, MIMIT extended price monitoring also to the production costs of pasta, olive oil, milk, apples, eggs, tomato puree;

• Mister prices, i.e. the Guarantor for price surveillance, which has the task of monitoring and verifying, upon reporting by citizens, any speculative phenomena. To support the Guarantor, a Mission Unit has been established at the Ministry, which carries out data analysis, evaluation and processing activities in collaboration with other institutional structures;

• the Price Observatory, an information and transparency service on the price trend of consumer goods and services and on inflationary dynamics. You can find the results of periodic monitoring on this page.

ASSISTANCE AND USEFUL CONTACTS

To contact the Price Guarantor you can write using alternatively:

MORE HELP AND UPDATES

Among the aids against rising prices, we highlight the Spending Savings Card and the Shopping Card.

Also at your disposal are our guides to the 77 euro petrol bonus and to food income.

Finally, we invite you to consult the list of all active 2024 bonuses, with the benefits and aid that can be requested.

However, if you want to know all the benefits available for workers and families, and those coming soon, visit this page of ours.

We remind you that to stay updated you can subscribe for free to our newsletter and to our Telegram channel, to get the latest news. It is also possible to stay updated by following our Whatsapp channel and our TikTok channel @ticonsigliounlavoro. Follow us also on Google News by clicking on “follow” where the star is.