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Press releases
Major improvements for consumers when shopping online cross-border - but still some obstacles to overcomeThe European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) launches the report “Online Cross-border Mystery Shopping - State of the e-Union”. The report reveals that in general consumers can be confident when shopping online across borders but it also shows obstacles that must be dealt with. Safer shopping: European Consumer Centres help 71,000 EU shoppers in 2010BRUSSELS, 6 June 2011 – Have you ever had problems getting a faulty product replaced or repaired, or getting a refund and assistance from the airline when your flight was cancelled? If you bought the product or service from a trader based in another EU country (as well as Norway or Iceland), a European Consumer Centre (ECC) in your country is there to help. In 2010, the ECC network (ECC-Net) provided free help and advice in over 71,000 consumer cases, up by 15% compared to 2009, according to the network's 2010 annual report. One in three complaints concerned transport, of which almost 60% were about air travel (partly due to the volcanic ash crisis). More than half of the complaints handled concerned online purchases. On youtube.com you can see how a problem with an e-shop from another EU country can look like Who shops online, might have had problems with goods delivery. Sometimes it takes time, sometimes the goods does not arrive at all. For a Czech resident, it is quite easy to push pressure on a Czech trader, whose seat is not far and also courts and the Czech Trade Inspection is quite close. But what to do when goods has been ordered and paid at a trader from another EU country? ECC helps resolve claims with airlines from the EU concerning tens of thousands Czech CrownsSummer did not bring only pleasant vacation experience, but also problems with airlines. Unpaid compensations for cancelled flights or damaged luggage have made some Czech consumers suffer. And they ask the European Consumer Centre for help. Investments, real estate and internet access among lowest ranking consumer markets "Investments, pensions and securities", "real estate services" and "internet service provision" are the three markets most likely to be failing consumers across the EU, according to the autumn 2010 Consumer Markets Scoreboard published today. Among goods markets, "second-hand cars", "clothing and footwear" and meat have scored lowest. At the other end of the spectrum, airlines show good results in spite of the disruptions of spring 2010 and consumers also appreciate cultural goods and services.Commission's campaign to inform passengers about their rights Passengers will enjoy easier access to information about their rights when travelling by rail or air thanks to a Europe-wide publicity campaign launched by the European Commission. Cross-border consumer complaints about e-commerce - problems unsolvedECC-Net to launch a new E-Commerce Report The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) launches the sixth report “The European Online Marketplace: Consumer Complaints 2008-2009” on October 11, 2010. The report shows that a total of 8,032 (in 2008) and 8,885 (in 2009) consumer complaints and disputes were received by the ECC-Net, out of which 42 % and 55 % respectively dealt with e-commerce claims. In comparison, according to the ECC-Net case handling statistics for 2007, there were a total of 5,192 consumer complaints and disputes out of which 50% concerned e-commerce. The ECC-Net saved 3.5 million euro to consumers in one year - 5 years report Have you ever ordered online, paid for the goods and never received them? Then the European Consumer Centre can be of help to you. Between 2005 and 2009, the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) handled almost 270.000 contacts with EU consumers who turned to them for advice or help on cross-border shopping, according to the ECC-Net 5th anniversary report published by the European Commission today. The number of annual contacts has been rising steadily, from about 43.000 in 2005 to over 60.000 in 2009. The annual value of amicable settlements of complaints with traders (in reimbursements and compensation for consumers) reached € 3.5 million in 2008.How to Avoid Problems When Renting a Car Abroad Would you like to rent a car on your holiday abroad and avoid potential problems with the car rental company? We have several tips that may help. For example, it’s really worth taking time to read the rental contract and insurance terms and conditions. It’s also a good idea to take a few photographs of the car on receipt and again when you return the car to the rental company.How Does the "Euro Guarantee" Work in the EU Many people buy goods or services while on holiday in other EU countries with the assumption that they can rely on a so-called “euro guarantee”. However, this does not exist under any applicable legislation. And even if a manufacturer or a chain store has a branch in the Czech Republic, this does not automatically mean that their local representative will accept a cross-border claim. Because the terms and conditions of guarantees vary in the European countries, it is a good idea for consumers to acquaint themselves with these conditions in advance.Better protection for consumers shopping online in the EU Clear rules for online shopping within the EU will be introduced at the end of the year by the new Rome I European Regulation. These rules will put an end to arguments over whether online shopping is governed by the law of the trader’s or the consumer’s home country.Falling for online ticket fraudsters They wanted to see their favourite singer in concert and paid for tickets via the Internet. But the tickets never arrived because they were victims of highly organized fraud.Report on ECC activities in the first half of 2009 In the first half of 2009, the number of cross-border disputes handled by the European Consumer Centre (ECC) doubled and the number of requests for information was up by a fifth compared to the same period in the previous year, when the ECC was operating under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. How to complain about goods abroad. ECC lawyers advise Have a problem with a claim abroad? Don’t know your consumer rights when shopping in the EU? On Wednesday 29 April, the Eurofestival will be held on Mariánské náměstí, Litoměřice, where you can consult the consumer law applicable in EU Member States with experts – lawyers from the Czech Republic’s European Consumer Centre, who help people in disputes with retailers from the EU, Norway and Iceland.European Consumer Centre encourages shopping online The Czech European Consumer Centre’s focus this year is on shopping via the Internet. The aim is to encourage Czechs to make use of distance shopping opportunities in Europe and to inform them of their rights in the European market. Consumers: 50% of misleading airline websites correctedThe report EC shows that there are "serious nad persistent consumer problems". Great potential of cross-border e-commerce going unfulfilledThe share of EU consumers that have shopped across border has remained stable since 2006 (at around a quarter of the population). OECD Governments to Help ConsumersOECD information. archiv |