EU reforms consumer protection rules and improves transparency
Date
02 Apr 2019
Sections
InfoSociety
S&D negotiator Evelyne Gebhardt fought for more transparency for consumers when they use online platforms, such as Amazon, booking.com or other online marketplaces. When consumers buy or plan their holidays online it can be confusing to know why certain products are ranked the way they are. In future, consumers will receive information about the seller, the parameters used to make up a ranking, whether a seller has paid to be placed higher up a ranking and how the review system on the website works. In addition, consumers will have to be informed whether personalised pricing was used against them, such as assumed income or previous preferences.
Evelyne Gebhardt, S&D negotiator on strengthening EU consumer protection rules, said:
“Unfair commercial practices have to be punished harder; otherwise consumer protection laws become an empty promise. This reform gives authorities greater powers to protect consumers and will give consumers the possibility to end a contract and be reimbursed if they have fallen victim to an unfair practice. These new rules will also put an end to overpriced helplines in the travel sector. In future, it will not be possible to charge consumers who call up a railway company or airline more than the basic call cost rate.”