ACM warns against misleading sale of subscriptions to discount sites and raffles

Over the past few months, ConsuWijzer, the consumer information portal of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), received a lot of reports from consumers about misleading selling practices regarding subscriptions. These mostly concern subscriptions that are sold over the phone, where consumers get subscriptions to ‘discount sites’, raffles, and cheap trips. Consumer media recently also ran several stories on such unfair commercial practices.

How do these work?

Sellers approach consumers usually over the phone or the Internet, often under the pretense of having won something or getting the opportunity to take advantage of a unique offer or discount. It sounds too good to be true: you receive a lot of benefits. You are subsequently pressured to decide immediately. You assume it is an offer without any obligations, but afterwards, it turns out that you are stuck with a subscription that is automatically collected. These subscriptions often cost more than they bring in. And it is difficult to get rid of them. The providers cannot be contacted. But if you do not pay, you receive letters from a debt collector.

Spotreis.eu has already been dealt with

Two weeks ago, ACM already took steps against travel agent Spotreis.eu. Hundreds of customers of this website for cheap trips are now able to cancel their subscriptions. This case concerned an annual subscription of EUR 200, which they no longer need to pay. Furthermore, Spotreis immediately ended its misleading commercial practices.

Rapid interventions for solving consumer problems

ACM has different instruments at its disposal for solving market problems. When choosing a strategy, ACM selects the instrument that is best able to solve the identified market problem. In this specific case, ACM chose a rapid, focused intervention. In other cases, it can choose to impose fines.

Report misleading commercial practices       

ACM calls on consumers to report any misleading commercial practices involving subscriptions. Consumers can contact ACM by phone or online at ConsuWijzer.nl. Such reports help ACM take action against businesses that engage in such practices.

File a complaint with ConsuWijzer.nl (in Dutch)

Consumer tips

ConsuWijzer gives consumers the following tips (in Dutch):

• If an offer sounds too good to be true, it often is.
• Never let a salesperson rush you into a decision. Ask for more time or just say no.
• Have you actually signed an agreement for the subscription? If not, then there is no valid agreement, which means you do not need to pay anything.
• Consumers are entitled to a cooling-off period of 14 days when making online purchases or purchases over the phone. During this period, you can return the product without any reason, or you can notify the supplier in writing that you are canceling the purchase.