EU SWEEP ON WEB ELECTRONICS TRADERS SHOWS UP TO HALF ARE MISLEADING CUSTOMERS
Posted, September 09, 2009 @ 10:00
Firm action is needed to stop them slipping through the net says Conservative MEP
Brussels 9 September 2009, unscrupulous electronic goods web traders will be targeted after the European Commission announced today that it will be reporting up to half of the websites in Europe selling electronic goods, from mobile phones to laptops, to national authorities.
Many of the websites are to be reported for misleading customers and charging for hidden extras.
The EU sweep focused on 369 websites selling electronic equipment. In the UK, six of the 14 sites investigated were found to have problems with misleading offers.
Conservative MEP Malcolm Harbour, chairman of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee in the European Parliament welcomed the Commission’s investigation in this area.
Mr Harbour said:
"More and more citizens want to shop on the internet to bag themselves a better bargain but are unsure of whether they are being misled or if they would be protected.
"This sweep clearly shows that more needs to be done to make consumers aware of their rights. They need to know that they are protected, regardless of which website, or which country, they buy from in the EU.
"Dealing with this cross-border trade requires much better co-operation between trading standards authorities across the EU to ensure that rogue traders cannot slip through the net.
"My Committee will shortly be meeting Commissioner Kuneva – who I congratulate on the initiative - and will be pressing her to follow up these findings with meaningful and firm action."