Consumer advocates call attention to conscious shopping on World Consumer Rights Day

When contacted by MTI, the NKFH reported that the awareness of Hungarian consumers has increased in recent years, but especially when it comes to online purchases, there is a continuous need to expand the knowledge of customers in order to make careful purchases. to be informed and make a well-considered decision.

They added: before making a purchase, it is recommended to check the reliability of the web store, check its availability, read the detailed description of the product, compare prices with those indicated on other platforms, review the delivery, payment and return conditions, and read the experiences and reviews of other consumers.

According to the NKFH, a conscious consumer treats with caution and recognizes excessively favorable, urgent offers or platforms containing incomplete information.

They consider it important for the consumer to be aware of his rights related to online purchases, for example, with the possibility of withdrawal without justification and in any case, keep the documents proving the order.

It was emphasized that the essence of conscious online shopping is that the consumer decides not only based on price, but also keeps security, transparency and the possibility of later legal enforcement in mind. When choosing an online store, it should be taken into account that it is much more difficult to enforce consumer rights in a legal dispute with a trader in a third country.

They also touched on financial awareness: buyers should pay attention to ensuring that their spending is in line with their financial capabilities and consider in advance whether they really need the given product or service.

Among common mistakes, they mentioned impulse buying, accepting offers from a remarkably cheap but uncertain source, or ignoring hidden costs (such as shipping fees, customs and VAT costs). These can be avoided if customers prepare a preliminary cost plan, compare prices from several online stores and check payment terms.

The authority called it useful if consumers choose a reliable online payment service provider when making payments and regularly monitor their invoices.

It was stated that if the customer experiences abuse when making online or in-store purchases, they should first contact the merchant. If this does not lead to results, customers can also contact the NKFH, the authority’s customer service can be reached on a free toll-free number (06 80 310 020) and by e-mail (ugyfelszolgalat@nkfh.gov.hu). In the case of individual legal disputes, conciliation bodies also provide assistance in a fast and cost-effective manner, without having to go to court. In cross-border legal disputes, it is worth seeking help from the European Consumer Centre operating within the NKFH.

György Baranovszky, the president of the FEOSZ, told MTI that consumers should choose Hungarian products when shopping in stores and online, so that they can more easily enforce their rights in the event of a problem.

The president of the association said that awareness is important when ordering online. Among his suggestions was, for example, that customers should choose cash on delivery when placing an order and, if possible, order from an online store that also has a physical store.

He said that consumers are aware that they have the right to cancel when shopping online, and the president of the association partly attributes the significant increase in online orders to this. Customers order in the knowledge that if the selected product is not suitable, they can return it to the retailer and get their money back.