english 
deutsch 
italiano
Consumer's Telegramm European Edition
If you wish to be informed monthly about European consumer news, just subscribe our free newsletter.Consumer's Telegram May 2007
Insert of n. 35 - Editorial office: Centro Europeo Consumatori (European Consumer Centre, Bolzano - Italy)Emergency Number 112
Common Emergency Number All Over Europe
Every year, the number of people travelling all over the EU increases. Therefore it is good to know that now there is a common emergency number in all EU member states. For a medical emergency like a heart attack, a car accident or an accident on the ski run every second is essential. Every moment can save a life. If a consumer now dials the number 1-1-2 from a fixed phone or a mobile phone, he is connected to the employee of a call-centre who takes care of the case himself or forwards the call to the responsible emergency service. In any case, the consumers get the same support service as they are used to in their home country. We would like to remind you that the common national emergency number for medical emergencies in Italy is 1-1-8. Calling 1-1-2 you will reach the Carabinieri (kind of police) who passes your call on to the respective emergency services. For more information see our press release.Air Travel I
Airline Club Air Takes Up Flights
Some days ago the airline Club Air announced on its homepage that flights are taken up again on the 16th of April 2007. Moreover, on the homepage can be found information for those who were affected by flight cancellations at the end of the year 2006. According to information by Club Air it is possible to receive a new ticket for the same route on the name of the same passenger. Therefore it is necessary to send a respective demand by e-mail to the address commerciale@clubair.it or by fax to the number +3904586117848. We advise all passengers who were affected by the cancellation of Club Air flights to contact the airline and to follow the instructions on the homepage.We would also like to remind you that the European Consumer Centre (ECC) in Bolzano is at your disposal for further information and help from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm on the phone number 0471/980939.
Air Travel II
Problems With The Realisation Of Passengers' Rights: The EU-Commission Concedes A Period Of 6 Months For Member States
When the new EU-decree 261/2004 entered in force in February 2005 new era for the rights of air travellers was supposed to begin. This new regulation defines the compensation and reimbursements as well as support services for passengers in the Member States in the case of overbooking, cancellations and delays of flights.The EU Commission started a survey on the realisation of the decree to check its success. As a consequence of the results, which were not satisfying, the European Commission conceded six additional months to the Member States to take all necessary measures.
At the same time, the EU Commission plans to intensify its collaboration with the national supervisors and the airlines for the next six months and to start an information campaign directly on European airports.
More information are available here on our web site.
Case of the Month
This month we would like to report what happened to a Latvian tourist during her stay in Italy.She had bought a pair of shoes at a well-known Italian chain of retail shops. When wearing the shoes a day later, they got broken immediately. Therefore, she complained at the shop and the shoes were exchanged without any problems. Art.130 of the Consumer Protection Code says that the trader is responsible for any faults existing at the time of purchase.When the tourist turned home and wore her "new" shoes, also those ones were immediately broken. Thus, the ECC Bolzano contacted the trader and asked the reimbursement of the money and the cancellation of the contract of purchase. The law says, if the consumer had already complained and got a remedy of the problem, (in this case, replacement of the shoes) which was not successful, he has the right to cancel the contract of purchase.
And exactly that happened: the trader reimbursed the price of the shoes to the Latvian tourist.
 |
|
| software by endo7 |    |
ECC
via Brennero 3
I - 39100 Bolzano
tel.: ++39 0471 980939
fax: ++39 0471 980239