Fines of 220,000 euros in three large chain stores

Administrative fines totaling 220,000 euros were imposed on three large chains of stores that sell, among other things, technology products, for violations of consumer protection legislation, according to the General Secretariat for Trade and Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Development and Investment.

The above infringements concerned:
• Providing misleading information about the availability and delivery time of the products that companies have displayed on their website.

• In the untimely informing of the consumers about the lack of availability of the product, even though the price had been collected.

In addition, it was found:
• Very great difficulty in communicating with companies by phone or e-mail, so that consumers can be informed about the progress of their online order and exercise their rights.

• Untimely return of the price to consumers who canceled their online order due to non-delivery of the product.

• Inaccurate information to consumers about their right to withdraw from remote purchases. The companies in particular did not recognize this right in case the product has been put into operation even once or its packaging is damaged, despite their obligation to accept the withdrawal with a return, possibly at a reduced price.

• Non-compliance of companies with the obligations arising from the legal guarantee in cases of delivery of defective products and their refusal even to receive in their stores the defective products to be inspected.

It is recalled that consumers can report violations of consumer law on consumer line 1520 operating at the General Secretariat for Trade and Consumer Protection.