Consumer's Telegram April 2022

Insert of n. 29 - Editorial office: Centro Europeo Consumatori (European Consumer Centre Italy - Bolzano office)

SUSTAINABILITY IN EUROPE
How Europe is Focusing on Initiatives to Protect the Environment
On World Consumer Day, which took place on Tuesday 15 March, the European Consumer Centre (ECC) presented some of the most interesting sustainability initiatives for consumers in Europe. Two examples are the well-known Danish app "Too Good To Go" and the free public transport in Luxembourg. Discover more initiatives on our website.

TOGETHER IS BETTER

Cooperation is the Basis of ECC-Net

The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) was established in 2005 to resolve disputes between businesses and consumers from different countries in Europe. It is based on the cooperation between experts of the different centres in the EU countries as well as in the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland. In the first week of March, the coordinator of our Bolzano office, Stefano Albertini, met his Spanish colleagues during an enriching study visit. This strengthened the cooperation between the two centres. Always at the side of the consumers.

COVID TRAVEL VOUCHERS
Validity Period Extended to 30 Months
With an amendment inserted in the “Decreto Milleproroghe”, which came into force on 1st March, the period of validity of the so-called Covid travel vouchers was extended to 30 months. These are vouchers issued as reimbursement for hotel stays, package tours, school excursions and educational trips cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this further extension is not an ideal solution for consumers, as it pushes the date of the desired refund into the distant future. For more information click here.


CASE OF THE MONTH
Things can go wrong when shopping online, but sometimes you find yourself in a truly Kafkaesque situation... An Italian consumer ordered the latest model of mobile phone online. When the courier brought it, however, he immediately noticed that something was wrong: the package was clearly too light. He opened the package in the presence of the courier and found a preparation to cure a fish disease instead of the phone. On the consumer’s behest, thecourier noted down what had happened and the consumer contacted the seller to return the wrongly received parcel. The seller gave him instructions for the return, which was successful, but the cost of the return was not refunded. He complained, but without success, so the consumer turned to the European Consumer Centre (ECC) Italy. The complaint was then forwarded to the ECC Luxembourg, where the seller is based. Thanks to the courier's note and the photos taken by the consumer, the matter was finally resolved and the unhappy consumer was refunded the amount paid for the return... and received his new mobile phone.