Status: 14.11.2022 10:45 a.m
Mobile phone contract, streaming or fitness subscription: Anyone who concludes a contract on the Internet should be able to cancel it more easily on the website using the cancellation button. But it’s not always easy to find.
Contracts concluded on the Internet should actually be terminable at the push of a button – with a revocation button on the corresponding website. But consumer centers criticize the implementation of the rule that has been in force since July. In the review of 840 websites, they were only satisfied 273 times and had classified the termination option as legal, said the Bavarian consumer advice center. The consumer advice centers then warned 152 companies, some of them because of several websites that were the subject of complaints.
Anyone who concludes a contract on the Internet has been able to terminate it more easily since July. Since then, so-called continuing obligations that can be concluded online must have a cancellation button. This allows consumers to get rid of their contracts without long searches and writing letters. Some examples are mobile phone contracts, subscriptions, contracts with fitness studios or streaming services.
Cancellation button hidden or not available
During the review, which lasted from July 18 to October 14, consumer centers and other consumer associations checked well-known websites from various industries. In 349 cases, the button was completely missing, in 65 cases it was hidden and in 38 cases it was not labeled correctly. In addition, according to their own information, the auditors of the consumer advice centers found a further 339 violations. In accordance with the regulations, the cancellation button was only installed on 273 pages.
“We regret that it has not been implemented on so many websites. There was sufficient time for this in advance,” said Tatjana Halm, head of the market and law department at the Bavarian consumer advice center. “We hope that improvements will be made immediately on all sides.”
Verification continues
The first effects can already be seen. According to the consumer advice center, 86 of the companies warned had submitted the required cease-and-desist declaration by November 2nd. In some cases, the courts also have to decide. It was also found “that some companies that did not receive a warning from us have improved their pages,” said Halm. The testing of websites should continue. Consumers who identify defects themselves can do so on-line report to consumer advice centers.