Did you ever book a car online and find out you had to pay more when you get to the rental desk? Last year, this was the case of 2,000 consumers in Europe, who reported these issues to the European Consumer Centres, which help consumers when they travel or buy cross border.
The International Product Safety Week will take place this year from 14 to 18 November. Regulators and stakeholders from more than 40 countries will meet to exchange their ideas and experiences on current product safety matters. This year, the event will focus on the challenges brought about by the digital economy.
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers hosted the 2016 edition of the International Product Safety Week (IPSW) from 14 to 18 November in Brussels.
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers hosted the 2016 edition of the European Consumer Summit: "EU consumer law: still fit for purpose? Achievements and challenges", on 17 October 2016 in Brussels.
European and national policy makers, researchers and industry experts are meeting today (17 October) at the 2016 European Consumer Summit in Brussels to discuss how EU consumer and marketing legislation can be streamlined.
When was the last time you wanted to purchase something online, but decided not to go through with the purchase because you did not like the seller's terms and conditions?
The OECD "Global Awareness-raising Campaign on Window Covering Cords" (23 to 30 June 2016) aims at informing consumers of the risks posed by unsafe window coverings, which are still in use in millions of European homes today.
Today, the Commission is proposing to boost consumer and business trust in e-commerce by making it easier for authorities to enforce consumer rights and by clarifying the rules on unfair commercial practices.
Last update: 29/05/2017
[i]The European Commission published new figures today showing that, in 2015, more than 2,000 dangerous products triggered EU-wide alerts. The Commission, EU Member States and businesses are working together to ensure that these unsafe consumer goods are removed from the European market. A key challenge is the increasing share of products bought online from outside the EU.[/i]
The European Commission has published key findings of its survey on geo-blocking in the EU Digital Single Market (DSM), a practice which prevents consumers in a given country from shopping online from other EU countries due to geographical restrictions imposed by online retailers. Geo-blocking is a significant cause of consumer dissatisfaction and fragmentation in the Internal Market, as it limits consumer opportunities and choice when shopping online goods and services cross-border within the EU.
Consumers should be aware of their rights under EU law so they can use them every day, when shopping online or on the high street. That's why the European Commission has organised a campaign informing citizens of their rights under EU consumer law and pointing them to the right places where they can get advice and help in case of questions or problems.
[i]The ECC-Net publishes a report on cross-border car purchases and registration, together with recommendations to consumers on how to avoid fraud.[/i]
Today, the Commission has published a study which looks into the difficulties consumers face in getting the best or fairest deals. Consumers facing these difficulties may be more likely to have negative experiences when attempting to make purchases, choosing, or switching providers. The study identifies the main reasons behind this vulnerability and what can be done to enable consumers to make better use of their rights and the alternatives the marketplace offers. A special focus is directed at the challenges consumers face in the online environment, as well as in the finance and energy sectors.
In March 2016, the European Commission will launch a two-week information campaign on Facebook. The campaign aims to raise attention around the forthcoming “European Consumer Day” (10 March 2016) and the “World Consumer Rights Day" (15 March 2016).
Today, the European Commission launched a new platform to help consumers and traders solve online disputes over a purchase made online.
The European Commission has published a [b]Roadmap[/b] for an upcoming overall evaluation (Fitness Check) of EU consumer law in 2016 and 2017. Stakeholders are invited to send feedback on the roadmap within the next [b]four weeks[/b].
On 9 January, the European Commission opens its new online dispute resolution (ODR) platform to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) bodies.
