Press release archive 2009
Press release | December 4, 2009 | Consumer Authority warns of fraudulent World Cup football tickets
The Consumer Authority warns consumers who wish to buy tickets for the forthcoming football event World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
Meer informatiePress release | December 3, 2009 | Consumer Authority warns about sales pitches during bus trips
The Consumer Authority launched an awareness campaign today to warn consumers about sales pitches during bus trips.
Meer informatiePress release | October 29, 2009 | Consumer Authority fines KPN
The Consumer Authority has imposed a fine of EUR 9,500 on KPN for incorrectly informing consumers about their rights. In the confirmation letter received by a number of new subscribers to KPN, the cooling off period was stated incorrectly.
Meer informatiePress release l September 7, 2009 l Consumer Authority to monitor online ticket shops
The Consumer Authority intends to monitor the websites of companies that resell entry tickets for concerts and events.
Meer informatiePress release | August 4, 2009 | Consumer Authority: Paradigit and Computerland to abide by guarantee regulations
The companies Paradigit and Computerland have promised that in the future they will abide by the regulations relating to guarantee & conformity and unfair commercial practices.
Meer informatiePress release | July 31, 2009 | ConsuWijzer sees consumer becoming more assertive
More and more Dutch consumers are using ConsuWijzer, the government information desk for consumers, to seek redress.
Meer informatiePress release | July 9, 2009 | Consumer Authority: hands full with national and international violations of consumer law
In the first half of 2009, the Consumer Authority launched a large number of investigations into national and international violations of consumer rights. The violations observed by the enforcement authority include violations in the four priority areas for the 2009 Agenda: telemarketing, sales demonstrations, SMS services and guarantee & conformity.
Meer informatiePress release | July 2, 2009 | New training for retailers to increase knowledge of regulations relating to guarantees
Frank Heemskerk launched the on-line ‘Guaranteed Good’ course at the ROC Mondriaan in the Hague. The launch took place during a guest lecture to a group of students following a course in shop management.
Meer informatiePress release | June 18, 2009 | Consumer Authority warns holiday-makers of being misled by holiday clubs
The Consumer Authority launched an awareness campaign today to warn holiday makers of being misled by holiday clubs. It is also calling on consumers to file complaints with ConsuWijzer, the consumer information desk set up by the government.
Meer informatiePress release | May 12, 2009 | Consumer Authority imposes penalty on Pretium Telecom
Following an inspection, the Consumer Authority found that Pretium Telecom is continuing to advertise for customers for landline telephone contracts in an incorrect manner.
Meer informatiePress release l April 28, 2009 l Consumer Authority wins initial proceedings commenced by a petition
The Consumer Authority has won the first special initial proceedings commenced by a petition that it initiated. The case in question was submitted against a travel provider that did not comply with the statutory obligation to provide a guarantee when offering package tours. The Consumer Authority submitted this case to the Court of Appeal in The Hague.
Meer informatiePress release l April 20, 2009 l Consumer Authority begins information campaign concerning misleading telemarketing
Every year, almost 1 in 4 Dutchmen and women have to deal with aggressive and misleading telephone sales. A recent study conducted by the Consumer Authority into unfair commercial practices revealed that over 800,000 people aged 18 years and above suffer an average loss of 121 euros per year. This is why the Consumer Authority has begun an information campaign today via ConsuWijzer, the government’s information desk for consumers. ConsuWijzer is providing information and the ConsuWijzer Tele-Checklist in order to prevent people from making purchases that they later regret.
Meer informatiePress release l April 16, 2009 l Consumer Authority: resilient consumers form the most effective way to ensure fair trading
The Consumer Authority is to take action against companies in the electronics sector that provide consumers with incorrect information about warranties that can be bought in addition to the item purchased or extended warranties that consumers can take out when making their purchase. The Consumer Authority made a statement to this effect at the meeting during which it presented its 2008 annual report. An investigation by the Consumer Authority into (extended) warranty or warranty that can be bought in addition to the item purchased have revealed that this product does not often provide more or does not provide a great deal more than the statutory rights that the consumer already has. Warranties that are bought in addition to the item purchased may however giv
Meer informatiePress release | April 9, 2009 | Consumer Authority: Grando Retail adjusts commercial practice
It appeared that Grando Retail, a member of the Central Association for the Interiors Sector [CBW] and a franchise chain of independent kitchen businesses with around 47 showrooms in the Netherlands, had been acting in a manner that contravened the sector rules of the CBW in relation to requesting deposits from customers.
Meer informatiePress release | April 7, 2009 | Consumer Authority fines Tele2 for telephone canvassing
The Consumer Authority has issued fines to Tele2 Nederland B.V. totalling €70,000 for the way in which the company effected landline subscriptions by telephone in 2007 and 2008.
Meer informatiePress release | March 7, 2009 | Consumer Authority fines Pretium Telecom for telephone canvassing
The Consumer Authority has determined that the canvassing practices of Pretium Telecom are in violation of the law. As a result, the Consumer Authority has fined Pretium Telecom a total of 87,000 euros.
Meer informatiePress release | February 16, 2009 | Consumers often insufficiently protected in furniture and kitchens sector
The Consumer Authority has established that the general terms and conditions of many stores in the furniture and kitchens sector are unfairly restricting the rights of consumers.
Meer informatiePress release | February 11, 2009 | Consumer Authority issues warning about Valentine messages
In anticipation of Valentine’s Day, many text messaging service providers are extremely active, with a potential consequence that consumers unwittingly take out a subscription.
Meer informatiePress release | February 10, 2009 | Consumer Authority again fines provider of SMS services
The Consumer Authority is imposing fines upon Smart Media Services B.V. amounting to a total of EUR 118,750. Their website, www.skilled2win.com, enticed consumers with games, suggesting that by participating in the games, large (cash) prizes could be won. However, in order to be eligible for a prize, it turned out that it was necessary to take out an SMS subscription for a word game. Participation in the word game was not a one-off event, but continued until the consumer signed out of the game.
Meer informatiePress release | January 26, 2009 | Consumer Authority in 2009: telephone sales practices and sales pitches
In 2009, the Consumer Authority will focus on tackling misleading and aggressive telemarketing practices and sales pitches in addition to taking action with regard to SMS services and guarantees and conformity.
Meer informatiePress release | January 19, 2009 | ConsuWijzer a valuable source of information
In 2008 ConsuWijzer has been a valuable source of information. More and more consumers are using the service, where they ask their questions and report their problems with providers and sellers.
Meer informatiePress release | January 8, 2009 | Consumer Authority imposes a fine for misuse of MSN log-in details in the advertisement of ringtones
The Consumer Authority has imposed a fine of €85,000 on the company OX-2 International. The company runs a number of websites which feature advertisements for SMS services offered by providers of ringtones or quizzes.
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