Brussels, 03/08/2009 (Agence Europe) - European Consumer Centres have stated that transport remains the number one problem sector for consumers and accounts for one third of all complaints regarding problems affecting cross-border shopping in the European Union. This was revealed in the ECC-Net Annual Report for 2008, published by the European Commission on Monday 3 August. The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) handles over 62.000 contacts with EU consumers who turn to them for advice or for help with problems affecting cross-border shopping. There was a 22% increase in the number of Consumers turning to the ECC-Net directly for help in 2008. Most complaints tackled by ECCs concerned transport (33%, of which 80% related to air transport), recreational services (25%) and hotels and restaurants (13%). The problems concerned product and service (25%), delivery (18%), contract terms (16%), and unfair commercial practices (14%). Over half of the problems reported referred to online shopping.
EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said: "It is during recessions that consumers are most vulnerable to the appeal of suspiciously cheap offers and falsely attractive promotions. When they fall victim to a scam in another country, problems multiply. What matters is not just the consumer laws in place, but that consumers can benefit from these laws in their daily lives”.
Commissioner Antonio Tajani, Ms Kuneva's colleague responsible for transport, was not surprised by the news and in a press statement declared that, “by definition, this involves cross-border business. Personally, I am delighted that airline passengers are increasingly aware of their rights such as those contained in Community legislation and which they address to the ECCs to ensure these rights are respected”. The Commissioner had made passenger rights one of his main priorities and affirmed that he would also ensure that, “these rights are respected as soon as possible in all areas of the transport arena”. (A.N./trans/rh)