During the week from 2024-10-07 to 2024-10-13, the Service Juridique addressed a total of 24 consumer inquiries. These consultations were conducted through various communication channels, including phone, video call, messenger, telegram, and reddit. The consultations covered multiple consumer protection topics, with some overlapping cases.

A notable number of inquiries, specifically in 7 cases, involved e-commerce/distance selling issues. Consumers often sought advice on return policies and delays in product delivery. In these cases, we guided them on becoming familiar with and utilizing their rights to return faulty goods and seek refunds within the legal framework.

In another 5 cases, the consumers reached out regarding unfair practice involving exertion of pressure by sales entities. We advised them to document all instances of communication and to cease interactions with such companies while exploring potential legal actions if the activities persist.

We also addressed travelers’ rights (air travel) in 4 consultations. These primarily concerned flight cancellations and delays. Consumers were informed about their entitlement to compensation under EU regulations and encouraged to file claims with the airlines for any monetary loss incurred.

The topic of banking was brought up in 3 separate instances, focusing on hidden fees and unauthorized transactions. Consumers were advised to first contact their banks for resolution and to formally dispute any unrecognized charges while acknowledging the banks’ responsibility in safe-guarding consumer finances.

Two consultations focused on pricing transparency, where consumers reported misleading price displays in online transactions. We guided them on how to collect evidence such as screenshots before and during the purchase and provided insight into how they could notify authorities about infringements.

GPDR issues arose in two cases, concerning personal data misuse. We instructed the consumers on exercising their right to data access and erasure while recommending immediate contact with the respective data controllers to resolve the issues directly.

Lastly, unfair business practices that are blacklisted were the subject of a single consultation. The consumer was advised to file a report with our agency, furnishing all necessary documentation for further investigation.

In one rare instance, the issue presented fell outside the scope of our organization as it concerned taxation, which does not align with our focus on consumer protection within the EU. The consumer was informed accordingly, highlighting the delineations of our service capacity.

This week counseling was provided by WhizzBang Viadrina.