Weekly Report, 2024-02-19 to 2024-02-25

During the week of February 19 to February 25, 2024, the Service Juridique engaged in a total of 18 consultations with consumers, leveraging both messenger and Mastodon as communication channels. Throughout this period, we addressed a variety of consumer-related issues, encompassing multiple areas.

A significant portion of the consultations, specifically seven instances, revolved around travelers’ rights (air travel). Consumers in these cases were primarily concerned with flight cancellations and delays. Our advice centered on informing them of their rights under current EU regulations and guiding them on the procedures to claim compensation where applicable.

In five consultations, health claims in food were a point of discussion. Consumers were advised on how to interpret product labels critically and make informed decisions about their food purchases. Additionally, we provided information on lodging complaints if they suspected misleading health claims.

The topic of (unfair) general terms and conditions was the subject of four consultations. Consumers brought up issues related to potentially unfair contract terms in service agreements they encountered. The Service Juridique guided these consumers on understanding such terms and emphasized their right to contest them when perceived as unfair, under consumer protection laws.

In the remaining two consultations, the issues presented were deemed beyond the scope of our consumer watchdog responsibilities, as they pertained to real estate matters and taxation, which fall outside EU consumer protection domains. In these cases, consumers were advised that their concerns did not align with the typical scopes of consumer rights as understood within the EU regulatory framework, and hence no further action was taken by our service.

This week’s activities highlight the ongoing necessity for consumer awareness regarding their rights across various domains and the value of access to reliable consulting services through multiple communication channels.

This week counseling was provided by WhizzBang.

The Service Juridique serves as the Legal Department of and for all members of the WhizzBang network. It’s professionals are located in Belgium, Slovakia, Estonia and Finland.

About WhizzBang: WhizzBang is a European network focused on consumer and data protection, uniquely dedicated to representing the interests of expatriates—individuals living in an EU country different from where they were socialized. With offices in Frankfurt/Oder (WhizzBang Viadrina), Aachen (WhizzBang Meuse-Rhine), and Brussels, WhizzBang actively supports the EU single market and opposes national barriers, striving to ensure that consumers exercising their fundamental freedoms receive the protection and support they need.