TsukubaCityInformation
City of Science and Nature

If you experience trouble with any form of consumer activity, you might want to consult the Consumer Information Center that is located in Azuma, near Tsukuba Center. It works towards ensuring consumers' rights. If you have any problems with door-to-door sales, contracts, or inappropriate business practices, please contact the center. For example, if you sign a one-year contract for a subscription to a newspaper, do you know your rights if you decide to stop the subscription before the year is up? If you decide that you don't like the paper anymore, your options are limited, and you will have to negotiate with the company. If you move out of the area, however, you should be allowed to end the subscription when you move. Know your rights. And don't sign anything you don't FULLY understand.

Dealing with Door-to-Door Sales

• Consider carefully whether the purchase is necessary or not before you buy the product or enter into any contact.
• If you decide that you no longer need the goods, it is possible to cancel the order within a certain amount of time (called "cooling off period").
• Read and confirm the contents of any contract or agreement before you sign.
• Keep all receipts, especially when making a cash purchase.

Personal Information Protection Law

Businesses that collect personal information are required to follow various rules about the collection and use of private information, the security of their files that contain private information, the divulging of information to third parties, and other acts of disclosure. As a consumer, you can ask to see a company's record containing your personal information and you can request to have information corrected, added, or deleted. If it is discovered that a company is not abiding by the information privacy law, it can be made to delete the information or discontinue using it. As a consumer, it is your responsibility to take charge of your personal information. Before giving out any personal information, ask about the company's privacy policies. Do not give out any unnecessary information. And be aware of consumer fraud techniques, so that you do not fall victim to any of them.

Trouble with Cosmetic Surgery

Recently there have been complaints about some cosmetic surgery organizations in Ibaraki. If you are considering some kind of cosmetic surgery, please follow these instructions to protect yourself from harm.

1. Listen to the doctor's explanation carefully and ask questions until you fully understand your options. Ask specifically about the kind of operation, how it will be done, the expected results, side effects, risks, the surgeon's level of experience, and the costs involved. Do not just pay attention to the good parts. Carefully consider the risks.
2. Don't make the decision to have surgery on your own. Ask many people for their advice. Do not make an appointment for the surgery right away. Think about it after your consultation and make another appointment for the procedure after you have given it a great deal of thought.
3. Choose your doctor and clinic carefully. Do not get sucked in by flashy advertising.

Contact Tsukuba Health Center for more information.

See also...

• Consumer Fraud

Topics: Advice
Relevant for: Residents

Please note: While all efforts have been made to offer accurate and up-to-date information on this site, the information is presented as a guideline and is subject to change without notification. Phone numbers, addresses, and/or policies may have changed since this page was created. Please contact the appropriate section of the City Hall for confirmation of information and city policies.