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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 October 2007
Insert of n. 63 - Editorial office: Centro Europeo Consumatori (European Consumer Centre, Bolzano - Italy)Online Shopping
www.compraconbuonsenso.it - Information Campaign of the Mail Police
In collaboration with the online- auction house eBay the Italian Mail Police established the homepage www.compraconbuonsenso.it, which contains some essential rules for secure online shopping in Italian.For a secure online purchase it is not only important to be informed about the seriousness of the seller, his data (address, phone number) and to consider all details of the purchase conditions but also to choose a secure way of payment. Moreover you should absolutely mistrust e-mails asking for confidential data like the password (pishing) and always choose a safe password consisting of 8 signs at least.
Moreover the homepage contains other information and definitions of the most used terms in the internet as well as a test for your knowledge of online security systems.
Dangerous Products
RAPEX: The European Warning System for Dangerous Products
News about dangerous toys made in China has recently alarmed many consumers in Italy. Therefore, the ECC would like to inform people about the European Warning System for dangerous products (RAPEX).RAPEX is a system that helps the Member States to control the products on the market. It is based on the quick transmission of information found in the EU concerning all products except from groceries that are considered to be dangerous for security and health of people (except from groceries, medicines and medical equipment)
If on the market of a Member State such a dangerous product is found, at first a national institution will take measures to remove it from the shops (f. ex. call-back campaigns). Then, the national office (in Italy situated in the ministry of economic development) contacts the European Commission and informs about the dangerous products and its dangers. Consequently, the European Commission informs the other Member States, which then immediately take measures to remove the product if it is on the market. Every Friday, the European Commission publishes a list of dangerous products on their homepage.
False Lotto Wins
Recently quite a few consumers contacted the ECC of Bolzano to report about supposed lotto wins at foreign lotteries, especially Spanish or British ones. However, the wins are false copies of the state lotteries and the procedure is always the same: By e-mail or letter the 'lucky winner' is informed to have won the pools and is asked to send his data, especially bank data, in order to get the money on his bank account. Then, suddenly the 'winner' is asked to pay several thousands Euro of 'charges'.The ECC advises consumers to throw such 'good news' away as quickly as possible. Thinking about it you will come to the conclusion that it is strange that charges of administration, procedures and transfer are not simply detracted from the win!? You do not loose anything, if you do not react, because a real winner should never be asked to pay something in advance...
Case of the Month
This time, our case of the month is about a Bulgarian consumer who bought a used car. The consumer's girlfriend went to Italy in order to fetch the second-hand car. There, the dealer told her that although some small repairs were necessary, the car was in a very good state and absolutely roadworthy. Unfortunately, the woman made a different experience: After a drive of about 100 km the motor was suddenly broken. When the woman asked the trader for help the following day, he renounced any support and denied his responsibility. Thus, the consumer turned for help to the ECC Bolzano.As it was a second-hand car, the warranty period is only one year by law, in contrast to new cars, where the warranty lasts two years. The Italian consumer code says that the trader has at first the duty of repair or compensation. If the repair or compensation are impossible or inappropriate, the consumer can ask a reduction of the price or a rescission from the contract.
After a few weeks our efforts were successful: The dealer promised in a written form to reimburse the whole price of 6,200 Euro and to take back the car. This was a really great success for us, because it is not easy to get back such big sums out of court, even if the law is clearly in favour of the consumer.
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ECC
via Brennero 3
I - 39100 Bolzano
tel.: ++39 0471 980939
fax: ++39 0471 980239