Trade - More consumer complaints about doorstep selling
The consumer advice centers are calling for better protection against doorstep selling, including fiber optic connections and energy offers. According to their own information, they recorded a total of over 5,400 complaints from January to October - an increase of more than 20 percent compared to the same period last year.
The head of the federal association, Ramona Pop, told the German Press Agency that consumers were being taken by surprise in their own homes. "In some cases, contracts are then foisted on them that they would hardly have concluded under other circumstances."
Pop emphasized: "We need better protection against such harassment and contract traps." It is important that door-to-door visits are only permitted with the consumer's prior consent - as is the case with telephone advertising. The withdrawal period for doorstep contracts should also be extended from 14 to 30 days.
According to the data, from January to October, 35% of complaints to consumer advice centers about doorstep selling related to landline telephony and internet offers. This was followed by electricity with 13 percent and mobile phone offers with 6 percent. The sharpest increase in complaints was for mobile telephony - followed by renewable energy and landline offers.
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- Consumers in Germany are expressing increasing concerns about doorstep selling, particularly for fiber optic connections and energy offers, prompting calls for enhanced protection at consumer centers like Ramona Pop's federal association.
- The German Press Agency reported that Ramona Pop highlighted the need to prevent doorstep selling surprises in people's homes, stating that consumers are often pressured into signing contracts that they wouldn't otherwise entertain.
- To safeguard consumers from such deterrents, Pop advocated for regulatory changes, such as requiring prior consent for door-to-door visits, as well as extending the withdrawal period from 14 to 30 days for such contracts.
- Over 5,400 consumer complaints were recorded from January to October, a 20% increase compared to the prior year, with 35% of complaints related to landline telephony and internet offers, followed by electricity and mobile phone offers.
- Matching the rise in complaints from consumers regarding faulty doorstep selling techniques, Ramona Pop's association has championed efforts to secure better protection for consumers in their respective homes and against misleading contract traps.
- In response to these concerns, the German government could consider working with mobile phone providers, electricity providers, and other companies to implement improved standards in doorstep selling, thereby protecting the rights of consumers and retaining their trust in the Germany market.
Source: www.stern.de
