Online Shopping Tips

Archive for August, 2011

The online purchase of popular electronics, such as digital cameras or music players, is a crackdown on problematic sites became much safer after. 84% of the breaches of EU consumer law reviewed Web sites for sales of electronics are now in line with EU rules (in 2009 there were only 44%). A coordinated investigation (sweep) was launched in May 2009 and national authorities in 26 Member States plus Norway and Iceland have been carried out by. Among the problems identified were, among others misleading information about consumer rights, wrong price, and lack of contact information for sellers (IP/09/1292). The websites have since been corrected, if necessary, sanctions were imposed. The Commission completed the first results of this year’s study announced at the center of the online sale of tickets for cultural and sporting events is.
The EU Commissioner for Health and Consumers, John Dalli, said:. “The purpose of this coordinated work is to ensure that EU law to protect consumers will be enforced without compromise, for transparent pricing and truthful information is essential, the today show presented results that this approach is successful. It can help strengthen the mutual confidence of consumers and thus also benefit legitimate businesses. We are committed to continuing this joint actions to law enforcement, and already the next “problem industry ‘in the eye caught. ”

The investigation
A coordinated investigation (“sweep”) is one of law enforcement serving action that is guided by the EU and implemented by the competent authorities of the Member States. Whereby the Member States shall verify the same time and in a coordinated manner, a particular industry to breaches of consumer law. If the suspected irregularities, the companies should be contacted and asked to take remedial action.
The investigation of the electronic sites found in May 2009. The competent authorities across Europe checked whether is maintained in the online sales of electronics, the EU consumer law. For this six-course control products were selected, including portable music players, digital cameras and mobile phones. It then entered the national authorities the problematic websites targeted by demanding corrections and any sanctions imposed.

Results of the electronic survey
Of the 369 originally the sites are now in line 310 (84%) of the EU consumer law. In May 2009 there had been only 163 sites (44%). Identified violations were punishable by fines or the closure of the site.
With respect to the initially identified the main problems are revealed:
Information on consumer rights: the prescribed manner inform 86% of the time the websites reviewed now clear and accurate (such as on the right to return product for any reason and the warranty period), and in May 2009, it was only 64% of cases;
Information about the total cost: 94% of the time the websites reviewed information now clear and accurate about the total cost (including delivery and all other costs), and in May 2009, it was only at 75% of cases;
Contact Seller information: 95% of the time the websites reviewed the required information to the seller, such as name, address and e-mail address, and in May 2009, it was only at 82% of cases.

How goes it?
National authorities will continue to address the ongoing violations. In cross-border cases, they are in contact with the relevant authorities in other countries. The new system of EU-wide investigation is retained for next year already, new investigations and joint operations planned.
The new study: Online Ticket Sales
Subject of recent investigation now is the online sale of tickets for cultural and sporting events. 414 sites were inspected, of which corresponded to 167 (40%) the rules, but 247 (60%) are now closer against consumer law violations are investigated yet. The national authorities of this right by now, by contacting the relevant vendor and ask to make a statement to the identified problems or to resolve them.
The main problems arise in relation to
missing, incomplete or misleading information about price (eg disguised taxes or handling fees): 74% of the problematic websites;
unfair contract terms (eg no responsibility for the timely delivery of the cards or the exclusion of the reimbursement of the ticket price for cancellation of the event): 73% of the problematic websites;
missing, incomplete or misleading information to the seller (for example, that claims to his authorized representative): 48% of the problematic websites.