Fitness Check of EU Consumer Law - additional BEUC policy demands

Throughout the business-to-consumer commercial transaction it is the consumer who is in a weaker position vis-à-vis the other party. This is even more the case in the digital world, where consumers increasingly rely on online platforms for the decision-making process and where many traders provide their products or carry out their services in exchange for consumer data. It is therefore important that EU consumer law gives consumers essential rights, such as the rights to receive true information in a readable format, to not be misled or aggressed, to be protected against unfair terms and unfair practices, or to have remedies available in case of faulty goods or poor services. These rights must be safeguarded by enforcement and redress mechanisms: there are no consumer rights without redress.

BEUC outlines policy demands regarding: 

• The Absence of remedies under the Unfair Commercial Practice Directive;
• The exchange of data as a counter-performance;
• Liability and information duties of online platforms;
• A better presentation of information and terms and conditions.