During the week from January 20 to January 26, 2025, the Service Juridique received and handled a total of 24 consultations from consumers across various communication channels. Our team was available through video call, telegram, messenger, reddit, mastodon, phone, and e-mail, providing essential advice and support on numerous issues.

In this period, inadmissible health claims related to food were a prominent issue, discussed in seven consultations. Consumers were advised to refer to reliable sources and to submit official complaints to relevant authorities if they believed the claims were misleading or fraudulent. Another frequent topic was pseudo medicine/health advice not related to food, covered in five consultations. Here, consumers were urged to exercise caution and rely on evidence-based medical advice.

Unfair practice associated with cold calling was reported in six cases. In these instances, consumers were advised on how to identify unsolicited communications, and the appropriate steps to block or report the offending calls. Privacy concerns related to the GDPR were the subject of four consultations, where we guided consumers on understanding their data rights and the processes for rectifying potential breaches of personal information.

Our communication channels showed a varied pattern of use: video calls and phone consultations were notably effective for resolving complex queries, while telegram and messenger provided a quick medium for straightforward inquiries. Mastodon and reddit witnessed a mix of diverse issues, reflecting the broad engagement of users on these platforms.

In one rare instance, a consultation was identified as outside the scope of our mandate, concerning an issue with real estate taxes, and thus, it could not be addressed by our services. This week underscored the diverse nature of consumer concerns and emphasized the importance of our role in providing accessible and accurate information to the public.

This week counseling was provided by WhizzBang Maas-Rhein.