Vodafone which is Ireland’s largest network have got a slap on the wrist for breaking consumer law and if you have signed up on line in the last year they broke consumer law by not informing customers of their right to change their minds about signing up to contracts on-line within two weeks.
The action specifically relates to the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013, referred to as the Consumer Rights Directive. This legislation gives consumers the right to cancel distance contracts within a set timeframe. Traders are obliged to provide information to consumers about their cancellation rights before they make a purchase.
Isolde Goggin, Commission Chair commented, “Consumers are increasingly buying online and over the phone; our recent buying online research found that 55% of adults surveyed had purchased goods or services online. Reflecting the nature of buying online and over the phone; consumer law provides important protections, particularly, in relation to cancellation. Consumers should be aware of the rights they have. For those that aren’t sure, our consumer website (www.consumerhelp.ie) is there to help.
Customers of Vodafone will in the future be given the correct information as required by law. In addition, customers who bought goods or services online from Vodafone in the past twelve months and who now wish to cancel their contract can find details of how to do so in the customer notices section of the Vodafone website.
Vodafone have stated the following
Vodafone would like to notify customers who have completed an online order for a Vodafone product or service in the past 12 months that under Regulation 16 (2) of the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013 (the ‘Consumer Information Regulations’) your cooling off period expires 14 days from the date of this notice. If you wish to avail of your cancellation rights under the Consumer Information Regulations please use our cancellation form here and follow our Cancellation Instructions accessible here.
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