New Rules There are currently different rules in the EU to deal with the problem of defective goods. These rules may vary by country, but they will also be different if you purchase in-store or online.

Depending on these criteria, you will have the right or not to have your property repaired or exchanged. The time you have to request a repair or exchange also varies.

The new rules will be uniform throughout the European Union and cover both in-store and internet purchases.

They Will Also Strengthen Consumer Rights By:

  • offering several solutions: the customer can request a repair or an exchange of the defective good. If the repairs are not satisfactory, the customer will be entitled to an immediate price reduction or reimbursement.
  • no longer requiring the consumer to prove that the good was defective at the time of delivery or purchase during one year following delivery or purchase.

For example, A customer buys a fridge in his appliance store. According to the new European rules, the customer will have one year (6 months more than now) to request a repair or replacement at no additional cost without proving that the defect was

Present At The Time Of Purchase. The Rules Will Be The Same If The Fridge Is Purchase Online.

MEPs also want the seller to be liable if the defect appears within two years of the customer receiving or purchasing the product. However, the consumer will have to prove (in the second year) that he is not responsible for the malfunctioning of the good purchased.

These new rules follow those recently voted on geo blocking for online purchases. Indeed, these restrictions impose by online merchant sites based on the buyer’s nationality, place of residence and place of connection will be prohibited by the end of 2018.

The rapporteur of this proposal, the Belgian Christian Democrat MP Pascal Arimont, explains to us how these new rules work.

These uniform rules provide legal certainty for all sellers, large or small: “These rules also guarantee a level playing field for companies, giving them more legal certainty and confidence to make cross-border sales. By removing legal barriers. We are supporting our small businesses in particular. Enabling them to get a fair share of e-commerce alongside giants.

These Rules Currently Apply To Material Goods.

Regarding digital goods, the new European regulations. For which the Parliament gave the green light in November 2017, are already in negotiation between the Parliament. The Council and the Commission. Under these rules. Online shoppers will be entitle to repair and maybe reimburse if songs, apps or games purchased online in the EU are faulty.