During the week from 2024-07-22 to 2024-07-28, the Service Juridique consulted a total of 17 consumers. All consultations were conducted through the available communication channel, mastodon. The following provides a summary of the topics discussed and the guidance provided to the consumers.
A significant portion of the consultations, eight in total, revolved around e-commerce/distance selling. These cases primarily involved issues related to delayed deliveries and misleading product descriptions. Consumers were advised on their rights related to returns and refunds under EU consumer law and were encouraged to communicate their complaints directly to sellers, citing the relevant legal provisions to strengthen their stance.
Travelers’ rights (train travel) were the focus of four consultations. Issues raised included compensation for delayed trains and lack of assistance during disruptions. In these instances, consumers were directed towards the specific passenger rights applicable within the EU, and were guided on how to file formal complaints with the relevant railway companies for redress.
Three consultations concerned the topic of failure to provide mandatory information. This included scenarios where consumers were not given adequate details about their purchase or service. For these cases, consumers were advised to demand the requisite information in written form from the involved businesses, referencing the specific EU regulations that mandate such disclosures.
An inquiry into GPDR compliance was made by two individuals, focusing specifically on how their personal data was being handled by online platforms. The consumers were guided on how to request access and rectification of their personal data and were informed about the mechanisms to lodge a complaint with the appropriate data protection authorities if their grievances were not addressed satisfactorily.
Only one consultation involved pseudo medicine/health products not related to food. The consumer expressed concerns about misleading advertisements and potential health risks. In this case, advice was provided on scrutinizing product claims against verified medical evidence, and suggestions were made for reporting any misuse of advertising regulations.
Finally, there was one instance where the topic of consultation did not fall within the scope of a consumer watchdog, as it pertained to real estate rental issues. The consumer was informed that the matter did not fall within the purview of the Service Juridique, thus concluding the consultation.
In summary, the Service Juridique effectively addressed a variety of consumer protection issues during this week, providing clear guidance and appropriate advice to ensure consumers were informed of their rights and the steps needed to resolve their issues.
This week counseling was provided by WhizzBang Maas-Rhein.
