During the week of March 4th, 2024, to March 10th, 2024, the Service Juridique provided counsel to consumers through the channel available for this period, which was reddit. Over the course of the week, we engaged in a total of 18 consultations covering a range of topics pertinent to consumer rights and protection.

A significant portion of our consultations, specifically six cases, revolved around health claims in food. Consumers were guided on how to verify the legitimacy of health claims by checking against established EU regulations and were advised to seek products with recognized certifications.

Another prevalent topic was travelers’ rights in train travel, addressed in five instances. In these cases, we advised consumers on their rights in situations of delays and cancellations, emphasizing the importance of keeping travel documents and any relevant communication with service providers as a record for potential claims.

We encountered four consultations pertaining to unfair general terms and conditions. Consumers were advised to thoroughly review conditions before agreeing to them and to seek clarification or legal advice if they detect potentially unfair clauses that might contravene consumer protection laws.

Three consultations involved inquiries related to banking. Our team provided guidelines on how consumers can navigate disputes with banking institutions, emphasizing the significance of understanding terms before account agreements and how to lodge a formal dispute if required.

Unfair practice through exerting of pressure featured in four cases. Consumers were informed about their rights to resist coercive tactics and assured that aggressive selling practices are not compliant with EU consumer protection standards.

In three cases, consultations addressed the failure to provide mandatory information. We advised consumers on their entitlement to clear and comprehensive product and service information, as per EU regulations, and what steps to take if this information is withheld.

There was one occasion where the consultation did not proceed effectively due to the issue falling outside our scope, specifically a matter related to real estate taxation, which is not within the remit of consumer protection as defined by our agency’s guidelines.

Overall, the engagements informed and empowered consumers with applicable EU laws and available remedies pertinent to their challenges, aiming to ensure informed decision-making and enhanced consumer protection.

This week counseling was provided by WhizzBang Maas-Rhein.