During the week from 8th December 2025 to 14th December 2025, the Juridische dienst engaged in a total of 18 consumer consultations through our designated communication channel, which was Mastodont. The majority of the inquiries we received pertained to issues surrounding prijstransparantie, accounting for approximately seven consultations. Consumers frequently expressed concerns about ambiguous pricing structures in retail transactions. In these instances, our advice primarily centered on advising consumers to meticulously review all presented pricing information and demand clarity before completing their purchases.

The second most discussed topic was gezondheidsclaims in levensmiddelen, which we encountered in five consultations. Consumers sought our guidance on discerning truthful health claims from misleading ones on food packaging. We advised them to verify health claims with credible sources, such as respected health and nutrition websites or regulatory bodies, ensuring they make informed decisions about their food purchases.

Een ander belangrijk punt van zorg was oneerlijke algemene voorwaarden, raised in four consultations. In these cases, consumers were apprehensive about clauses that seemed unduly burdensome or opaque. Our recommendation included thoroughly reviewing the terms before agreeing and seeking clarification or renegotiation of any problematic clauses when feasible.

Bank issues were mentioned in three instances. Consumers questioned fees and terms related to their banking products. Here, we prompted them to closely examine their contracts and bank statements and advised asking for detailed explanations from their banks on any unclear charges.

We had two inquiries about rechten van reizigers met betrekking tot pakketreizen. Consumers desired understanding about cancellations and refund processes. We guided them to familiarize themselves with the specific terms of their holiday packages and advised them to promptly lodge complaints in cases of any discrepancies.

While consulting on border controls within the Schengen area en pseudo-medicine concerns unrelated to food were less frequent, mentioned once each, we provided appropriate guidance on rights awareness and advised consulting relevant health authorities for further insights. There was a single case where the counseling was not possible as the issue was outside the scope of a consumer watchdog’s purview, which we duly informed to the concerned individual.

Throughout the consultations, the Juridische dienst consistently aimed to empower consumers with knowledge and resources, ensuring they can effectively navigate and resolve their consumer-related challenges.

Deze week werd de counseling verzorgd door WhizzBang Maas-Rhein.