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Booking a journey

Online or offline - what you should consider before booking a journey.

FAQ

Consumer Champion

Professionals and organisations which are interested in European consumer topics and seek education in this area are given a new possibility: Consumer Champion.

New EU Commission in office

After approval for the candidates of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker from the European Parliament, the Commission was able to assume office on 1. November 2014. Some structural changes were set, which also affects consumer policies.

Fake reminders

30.10.2014 / Consumers drew the attention of ECC Austria to fake reminders which are currently in circulation.

Car rental companies change business practices

Three leading providers have to work on their website to adjust it to the Services Directive. It prohibits discrimination of consumers due to their place of residence or nationality. The car rental companies Hertz, Avis and Europcar will redesign their business practices after a "constructive dialog" with the European Commission.

Contracts concluded by minors

Whether buying a drink at the school cafeteria, downloading an app or ordering a concert ticket: Children and young people conclude contracts nearly every day. ECC Austria gives information about this topic.

Millions of counterfeit goods seized

Over 1.2 million counterfeit products and 130 million cigarettes – this is the respectable record of a large scale operation of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in cooperation with many international partners.

"Friedrich Müller": Four years of imprisonment

28.10.2014 / The Court for Criminal Matters Vienna found the managing director guilty of serious commercial fraud, the judgement is not yet final. More lawsuits shall follow.

Ebola: ECC Austria informs

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa spreads insecurity among European consumers. The European Consumer Centre Austria (ECC) provides information about the current situation.

New name, old method

28.10.2014 / On the website “shopping-house.com”, designer goods are offered at a cheap price.

Cyberbullying among students

Social networks play a big role among young people. But many have to face the downside of this trend: Cyberbullying has gained sad popularity. The EU initiative Consumer Classroom provides free material for teachers who want to address this issue in their lessons.

CJEU: Airlines are allowed to charge baggage fees

The Court of Justice of the European Union has decided that baggage fees of airlines are legitimate. This is valid only for check-in luggage, not hand luggage. And: Consumers need to be informed about such fees during the booking process.

New Ten Euro Banknote

The new banknote will be in circulation within the EU on 23. September 2014. Due to its new security features it will be easier for consumers to check if it is authentic.

Infurn: Investigations of Austrian public prosecutor

The Austrian public prosecutor department investigates against one of the operators of the webshop Infurn.com. Affected consumers can complain to the police. The European Consumer Centre Austria (ECC) summarized which details need to be considered carefully.

Fake Amazon-Mails

09.09.2014 / Many consumers receive mails which appear to be from Amazon, but in fact they are faked. In most cases, it is phishing which means the attempt to steal personal data from the receivers.

CJEU: Arrival is, when the doors are open

A court in Salzburg (Austria) asked the CJEU to define the term “arrival time” in the context of air travel. The decision: You have arrived, when the doors open and passengers can leave the airplane.

Little dictionary for booking a journey

Contractual partner, comparison portal, intermediary, operator: When you book a journey, it is important to know who your contractual partner is. Sounds simple, but with online booking, things can get confusing. The European Consumer Centre Austria has summarised the most important terms for you.

Extended guarantee: Survey of the ECC-Net

A new mobile phone, washing machine or car: When purchasing such goods, a commercial guarantee often seems valuable. These may be offered by the trader and exceed the legal guarantee with a minimum duration of two years.

ECC-Net: Travel App

The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) developed an App to support consumers while travelling in Europe. In 25 languages, the mobile application helps in situations like lost baggage, delayed flights or return of damaged goods.

Booking a flight online

Despite the existence of a clear legal framework, online flight bookings are often combined with obstacles and financial traps.

Suspicious key services

Many key services promote their work online or appear in phone books which makes it difficult to distinguish between professional and dubious providers. It is therefore very important to know what to take into consideration when choosing a key service. 

New Consumer Rights Directive implemented

With Friday, 13.06.2014, the new Consumer Rights Directive was implemented EU-wide in order to make the protection of consumers more effective and consistent. Main changes affect regulations about withdrawal, cancellation and price transparency.

Button solution

Improved protection against Internet cost traps

Vacation without worries

Many consumers are currently planning their summer vacation. What they should consider to avoid problems and what they can do in case of troubles – the European Commission summarized the most important facts.

Counterfeit bills

20.05.2014 / Regrettably this article is only available in German.

School education 2.0

For social interaction, as an information source or as a preparation for the job market - the internet and all its opportunities have become integral parts of the world, especially for the young generation. The initiative "Consumer Classroom" of the European Commission helps teachers who want to educate their students about risks and chances.

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