Consumer Authority warns about sales pitches during bus trips

The Consumer Authority today launched an awareness campaign to warn consumers about sales pitches during bus trips. It is also calling on consumers to file complaints with ConsuWijzer, the consumer information desk set up by the government. Every year, elderly people in particular fall victim to aggressive and misleading sales pitches during bus trips. It has emerged from a previous investigation conducted by the Consumer Authority into unfair commercial practices that each person who falls victim to this practice suffers financial losses of EUR 295 on average.

Consumers are enticed with a personal invitation for a free bus trip, but it is not obvious that the invitation relates not to the bus trip, but to the sales pitch with which it is associated. The consumers are then 'worked on' for the rest of the day in a small room by an experienced salesperson, in order to persuade them to buy various products that are tailored to their particular target group which are on offer for large sums of money.

One consumer reported at ConsuWijzer: "My seventy-five-year-old mother received a personal invitation for a free bus trip. Other elderly people were picked up in various locations, and then the bus took them to a party centre, where a sales pitch was made and all kinds of products were being sold. She bought an expensive mattress there which cost EUR 1700. My mother has rheumatism and was told that she should definitely buy the mattress. What is more, she was also told that she would receive various gifts free of charge. After a week, it emerged that the mattress caused her pain. My mother wished to return it, but that was not possible."

Marije Hulshof, Director of the Consumer Authority explains: "Elderly consumers are most likely to be enticed with an invitation for a free bus trip. During the sales pitch, which is the purpose of the trip, consumers feel under pressure to buy something. Products are often presented in an aggressive or misleading manner or people do not dare to say 'no' to the salesperson if other people are actually making purchases. Consumers sometimes buy hundreds of euros worth of products, but the question is whether they actually benefit from them. Our aim is to warn people about these practices, so that consumers are aware of them before they decide to go take a trip such as this."

An extensive special section on sales pitches during bus trips is available at ConsuWijzer, which includes information and advice on how to avoid making regrettable purchases. Consumers can also report or draw attention to any incidents at ConsuWijzer. In addition, the Consumer Authority informs Dutch consumers about these sales practices by means of various media.

Sales pitches as a priority area for the Consumer Authority

The issue of 'misleading and aggressive sales pitches' forms one of the priority areas of the Consumer Authority in 2009. In addition to raising awareness among consumers with regard to their rights through ConsuWijzer, the Consumer Authority is also able to take enforcing action. On the basis of the Unfair Commercial Practices Act (Wet Oneerlijke Handelspraktijken), the Consumer Authority is able to take action against all sales practices that are unfair and/or aggressive. In the event of any violations, companies can receive a fine of up to EUR 450,000 per violation.