NGM: no agreement with Alibaba on “Hungary surcharge” – misleading consumers is unacceptable

Contrary to rumors, no agreement has been reached between the Hungarian government and Alibaba no agreement that would authorize in any form the calculation, collection or presentation of the “Hungary surcharge” as a state burden, they wrote. They stated that “the Hungarian government will take decisive action in the interest of consumer protection against any market practice that deceives customers or imposes unjustified additional burdens on them”, and the cabinet “will guarantee fair competition and the effective protection of the interests and rights of the Hungarian people in online commerce through immediate official investigations and coordinated action”. class=”mb-5 text-lg font-normal leading-7.5 lg:mb-7.5 lg:text-xl”>Any commercial practice that presents an additional cost unilaterally determined by a business as an official regulation, a “mandatory state burden”, or a consequence of a government agreement is liable to deceive Hungarian consumers.

Alibaba’s current practice does not meet this, therefore the Ministry of Commerce calls on the trader to cease applying the relevant fee and to clarify the information provided to Hungarian consumers, with particular regard to ensuring that the fee does not create the appearance, as if its collection were based on state authorization or government agreement – the announcement reads.

According to the NGM announcement, the fee applied by Alibaba raises suspicions of unfair commercial practices, therefore the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority will immediately launch an investigation to determine whether the prior information provided to consumers complies with the legal requirements and whether the published information is not misleading.

In order to verify the legality of the invoicing and fee display practice, the National Tax and Customs Administration will also begin the necessary investigations to clarify whether the handling and display of the applied fees are in accordance with the relevant regulations.

– recorded.

If the 4.5 percent fee arose in connection with the special retail tax that will also apply to platforms in 2025, and its interpretation, it is important to record: