During the week of February 17th to February 23rd, 2025, our Service Juridique received a total of 19 consultations concerning consumer rights and protection issues. These consultations were conducted through various communication channels, with the majority taking place via e-mail and phone, followed by messenger and video call. A smaller number of consultations were conducted through mastodon and reddit.

The most prevalent topic over the week was related to failure to provide mandatory information, which was addressed in seven of the consultations. Consumers were advised to contact the businesses directly and request the missing information, reminding them of their legal obligations under EU consumer law.

Issues concerning unfair general terms and conditions were discussed in five cases. Consumers were informed about identifying unfair terms and advised to challenge businesses, potentially seeking to invalidate certain provisions that could infringe upon their rights.

Pricing transparency was examined during four consultations. In these instances, consumers were advised to seek a detailed breakdown of prices from the service provider and verify any unexpected charges. Emphasis was placed on the importance of clear and transparent pricing being a fundamental consumer right.

There were three consultations related to banking issues. Consumers were guided to review their financial product terms and empowered to raise queries with their respective banks regarding unexplained fees or changes in conditions.

Lastly, issues regarding pseudo medicine/health (not related to food) were brought up in four instances. The affected consumers were advised to rely on evidence-based medical products and report any misleading advertisements or health claims to the relevant authorities.

There was one case where our counseling could not be completed as the issue fell outside the remit of consumer protection within the EU. This involved a query related to taxation, an area beyond our scope of consultation. However, the consumer was guided on the basics of distinguishing between consumer rights issues and other legal matters.

The interactions throughout the week highlighted the ongoing need for consumers to be well-informed about their rights and the importance of businesses adhering to EU regulations to ensure a fair and transparent market. Our Service Juridique remains committed to providing accurate and timely advice to all consumers seeking guidance.

This week counseling was provided by WhizzBang.