IMPORTANT RESOURCE! Emun HaTzibbur

I'd like to share a super important resource today: Emun Hatzibur.

This is a non-profit EVERY oleh/olah should know about!

They're here to help you, as a consumer, get what you paid for/deserve.

If you're having a problem with consumer's rights, this is the first place to turn!

Yes, before you call a lawyer, file a complaint with Emun Hatzibur. 

Click HERE to go the Emun Hatzibur website (in English) and read more about this important organization.

To file a consumer complaint, fill out the form you find at this link: https://www.emun.org/%d7%9e%d7%95%d7%a7%d7%93-%d7%aa%d7%9c%d7%95%d7%a0%d7%95%d7%aa/%d7%94%d7%92%d7%a9%d7%aa-%d7%aa%d7%9c%d7%95%d7%a0%d7%94/ (it's in Hebrew) - I believe that if you write in English they will still get back to you!

So next time you're having trouble as a consumer, you know you have someone to turn to for help!

Hope this helps someone out there.

Great News! Israel's New "Do Not Call" List

BIG NEWS!!

Israelis can now put their cellphone numbers and landline phone numbers onto the new "Do Not Call" List. When you do this, you will be protected from receiving unsolicited sales calls.

AND, if you still receive an unsolicited sales call, you'll be able to fill out an online complaint form so the company will be fined.

This is really big news - we've been waiting YEARS for this!

I highly recommend you sign up and avoid having to worry that you'll get talked into paying for something you don't want.

I also recommend to those of you out there who have an older (senior) family member to look out for - sign up their number! The form offers the option to sign up on behalf of another person - use it!

Note: this will not stop all calls. Some calls, like those from companies you have a contract with, are allowed, and if you reach out to a company for information, they are allowed to call you and follow up.

This is about those truly unsolicited calls.

Here's how to sign up:

• Register for the list in one of the following ways:
• Online at https://dnc.fta.gov.il or https://govforms.gov.il/mw/forms/registration@cpfta.gov.il#!registration
• Register over the phone by calling 1-800-071-171 (automated system)
• Register over the phone by calling 1-800-071-170 (these calls are answered by a person. only available Sundays from 2-5pm and Mon-Thurs, 9:00am - 1:00pm)
• By reaching out over whatsapp using THIS LINK

The sooner you sign up, the sooner the protections go into place. The law goes into effect on Jan 1, 2023, but only applies once your number has been in the database for 2 weeks.

If you receive an unsolicited sales call, you can report this violation by filling out the form here: https://govforms.gov.il/mw/forms/DncComplaint@Cpfta.gov.il

Hope you found this helpful!

If so, let me know below! And if you want to keep in touch, please follow my FB page!

Fraudulently Labeled Oil

Recently, some oil bottlers have introduced fraudulently labeled oils to the market.

These bottles were bottled by companies operating without proper licensing and without any kashrut supervision. They are labeled "Extra Virgin Olive Oil" with various kashrut certifications, but in actuality they are oils of vegetable origin and are not known if they are certified kosher.

The following oils were lab-tested and verified that they are of vegetable origin, NOT olive oil:

Gilad brand "Extra Virgin Olive Oil", max. acidity 0.5%, 1L bottles with a sell by date of 31.12.2018

Tabor brand "Extra Virgin Olive Oil", max. acidity 0.8%, 1L bottles with a sell by date of 21.12.2018 (producer number is 7532)

In addition, be aware that inspectors found labels for the following companies during the inspection of the bottling facility found to be fraudulently labeling oils: Shaarei Yerushalayim Olive Oil, Yerushalmi Olive Oil, Tabor Olive Oil, Gilad Olive Oil, Gilboa Olive Oil, Zeit V'Gefen Olive Oil (שמן זית שערי ירושלים, שמן זית ירושלמי, שמן זית תבור, שמן זית גלעד, שמן זית גלבוע, שמן זית זית וגפן).

Please share this post with others so people can avoid these oils! 

For more information about how to make sure the oil you are buying is authentic, please see this post from the last time there was an olive oil scandal.

PRICE UPDATE for price controlled foods

I'm sure you're familiar with the list of foods that price controlled in this country - for better or for worse, certain products have maximum prices set by the government.

--- Retrieved from http://www.kosherfrugal.com/2015/09/new-prices-for-price-controlled-breads.html ---


The list includes breads, milk, cheeses, eggs, salt, and more. If you regularly buy these products, it may save you money to buy the "price controlled" version. Usually other non-price controlled versions are sold, as well. Check and decide what works best for your family.

I wanted to let you all know thaton Oct 1, VAT went down 1%, from 18% to 17%, so the legal maximum prices have been updated to reflect that change.

Full list of Price Controlled Groceries

The price listed is the MAXIMUM price for the specified item - in theory, a store can discount it further, if they want to.
If a store is selling price controlled items for a higher price, they are in violation of the law. You can (and should) report these violations!

Here are the items that are supervised, and the maximum price to consumers:

(The prices shown below are for the entire country, excluding Eilat. Eilat is exempt from VAT, so prices there will be lower.)

Lechem Achid (I believe this is about 65% whole grain) - 750g loaf, 5.07 (was 5.11)
White bread, 750g loaf, 5.07 (was 5.11)
Challah or yeast cake, 500g, 5.11 (was 5.15)  (don't ask me what kind of yeast cake this is referring to, I have no idea!)
Lechem Achid, sliced and packaged, 750g, 7.02 (was 7.08)
White bread, sliced and packaged, 500g, 6.24 (was 6.29)
Regular Kitchen Salt, Fine Kitchen Salt, Fine Table Salt, and Coarse Table salt, 1 kg, 2.07, (was 2.09) 
3% milk, 1 liter, bag, 5.11  (was 5.15)
1% milk, 1 liter, bag, 4.76 (was 4.80)
3% milk, 1 liter, carton, 5.90 (was 5.95) 
1% milk, 1 liter, carton, 5.55 (was 5.60)
Eshel, 4.5% fat, 200ml, 1.59 (was 1.60)  
Gil, 3% fat, 200ml,  1.44 (was 1.45) 
Sour Cream, 15% fat, 200ml, 2.28 (was 2.30)
Sweet Cream, 38% fat, 250ml, 6.20 (was 6.25)  
Butter, regular, 100g, 3.92 (was 3.95) 
Emek Cheese (at the cheese counter), per kg, 42.93 (was 43.30)  
Gilboa Cheese (at the cheese counter), per kg, 40.80 (was 41.14) 
Gvinah Levana (white cheese), 5% fat, 250g, 4.80 (was 4.85)  XL eggs, regular, 1 dozen, 13.10 (was 13.20)
L eggs, regular, 1 dozen, 12.00 (was 12.10)
M eggs, regular, 1 dozen, 11.10 (was 11.20)
 
Do you ever see stores overcharging? Have you ever made a report to the supervisory board?