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Consumer's Telegramm European Edition
If you wish to be informed monthly about European consumer news, just subscribe our free newsletter.Consumer's Telegram April 2008
Insert of n. 28 - Editorial office: Centro Europeo Consumatori (European Consumer Centre, Bolzano - Italy)EUROPEAN CONSUMER'S DAY
Awards for the best Consumer Protection Campaigns
On the occasion of the 10th European Day of Consumers on March 15th, the winners of the European competition for the best consumer protection campaigns were awarded a prize.The first prize went to the Finnish Consumer Centre, which convinced the jury with the online game "Galactor and the Code Breakers". This game is designed for teenagers and shows in a modern and exciting way the rights and duties of consumers, especially in the field of online shopping.
The award in the category "Best idea" was won by the quiz game "Consumer Challenge Quiz" by the UK. The Irish webpage www.itsyourmoney.ie won the category "Best Campaign in Finance" and Hungary was awarded for a painting competition to consumer issues in the category "Children as Consumers".
Finally, Awards of Honour went to the "iTunes campaign" of Norway as well a to a campaign about responsible credit decisions of an independent Esthonian finance institute.
PRODUCT SAFETY I
Warning Labels for Magnetic Toys
Since 2006 there have been several cases all over the world where children had to be operated on because they had swallowed magnetic parts of toys. Because of their magnetic features such parts can be extremely dangerous when swallowed because they can cause serious injuries of the digestive system. There were hundreds of consumer complaints, reports about incidents as well as several warnings by the European Warning System for dangerous products RAPEX.The case of the big toy company MATTEL caused a lot of attention by the media: in summer 2007 about 18 million toys were recalled all over the world.
The proposal of the Commission, which will soon be presented to the European Parliament, provides for the EU-wide duty to attach a warning label to all toys containing loose magnets or magnetic parts which could be swallowed by children because of their form and size.
PRODUCT SAFETY II
Childproof Lighters
Since March, 11th 2008 it is not just forbidden to import and trade lighters which are dangerous for children or so-called Novelty Lighters which attract children's attention because of their appearance (for example mobile phones, toys, cars), but also to sell them in the European Union.The Case of the Month
This time we tell you how the European Consumer Centre could help an Italian consumer who made a bad experience during his bicycle holiday in Amsterdam. The unlucky cyclist was hit by a car and injured. Moreover, several things he had with him (his watch, digital camera as well as his professional bike equipment) were badly damaged in the crash. While an eyewitness helped the cyclist, the car-driver only left her visiting card and went on immediately.After returning from the holiday, the consumer contacted the car driver by e-mail, asking for the exact data of her insurance. However, after finally getting the data, the nightmare was not over: the Dutch insurance company refused to pay for the damage of the consumer's personal things and clothes. Thus, the tourist contacted the Italian ECC which contacted- as usual in the ECC net- the Dutch ECC. The colleagues in the Netherlands contacted the insurance company of the careless driver and were able to get a compensation of 1,500 Euro (1,200 Euro for the damage to property and 300 Euro for the physical damage).
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