Problems with consumer contracts top the list of annoyances
Published: Friday, Dec 15th 2023, 10:30
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Consumers have suffered the most from problems with consumer contracts this year. A quarter of all reports to Consumer Protection related to delays in delivery, gagging contracts or denied warranty services.
Consumers are almost powerless at the mercy of retailers, wrote the Alliance of Consumer Protection Organizations on Friday. Although the purchase contract can be used to legally claim the unfulfilled service, this would involve a great deal of effort and be more expensive than the actual order. Many manufacturers also have a system for refusing to provide warranty services.
The consumer protection organizations received roughly the same number of reports regarding an inflation clause in the terms and conditions of providers in the online and telecoms sector. The three major telecoms providers in the country would give themselves the right to adjust subscription tariffs to inflation at any time, the report continued. Customers are also not granted any right of termination. This practice is unfair and fuels the inflationary spiral in Switzerland.
Almost a fifth of the complaints related to subscription traps and the greenwashing of many companies. Both violate the Federal Act against Unfair Competition, according to Allianz.
The consumer protection organizations from German- and French-speaking Switzerland and the Italian-speaking region publish an annual summary of all complaints, inquiries and reports received.
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