NGM: conscious shopping for peaceful holidays, consumer protection advice for the Christmas period

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 12. 12. 12:21

🎧 Hallgasd a cikket: Nyelv: Sebesség: 1.05×

The number of consumer protection risks also increases during the Christmas period. Therefore, it is important to make thoughtful and informed decisions while shopping, so that Christmas and the days that follow are not about the inconveniences caused by misplaced gifts, but about the intimacy and true values of the holiday – the Ministry of National Economy (NGM) wrote in its statement on Friday.

As emphasized, the NGM and the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority (NKFH) under its professional management will do everything possible to protect families during the holiday season, while taking the strictest and most decisive action against unfair commercial practices.

The number of consumer protection risks also increases during the Christmas period, so it is important to make thoughtful and informed decisions while shopping. This is especially true for sales, as behind the spectacular discounts sometimes lie artificially inflated “original” prices, so it is worth carefully considering not only the percentages, but also the real price difference.

They also mention that when giving gifts, the chosen surprise may not turn out to be perfect. In such cases, many people would like to exchange the product, but it is important to know that the legislation does not always provide this option. In the case of a personal purchase – if the product is not defective – the exchange or refund of the purchase price depends on the goodwill of the retailer, so it is advisable to find out about the available options before purchasing.

However, in the event of a product defect, there are several regulations that protect consumers. In the case of new, durable consumer goods (such as household appliances) with a sales price of HUF 10,000 or more that are subject to a mandatory warranty, the defective item must be replaced within 3 working days, provided that the defect prevents its intended use.

Furthermore, we have the right to repair or replace the product after 3 working days – within a period depending on the price of the product, but for a minimum of 2 years – and if this is not possible, we can also request a refund of the purchase price. But even in the absence of a warranty, we can request a repair or replacement based on the warranty if the purchased gift is defective – the NGM informed.

In the case of online purchases, since we cannot pick up or try on the product selected online, the legislator grants consumers a 14-day right of withdrawal without giving any reason. However, this does not apply to all products; in the case of individually made gifts, hygiene products or, for example, certain electronic products (unopened CDs or DVDs), the right of withdrawal cannot be exercised – the NGM emphasized.

They drew attention to the fact that

online purchases are convenient, but they can also contain risks. Therefore, it is particularly important to order from an online store that has real, easily accessible company information and that has the General Terms and Conditions, the data management information, and complete product information on its page.

In the case of unknown merchants advertising on social media, it is worth being extra careful. For the sake of later proof, it is advisable to save the purchase conditions, product descriptions, or the order summary. If you do not know the merchant, it may be safer to choose cash on delivery instead of advance payment.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, courier services are working under an extraordinary load, so some packages may arrive late. In such situations, it is the seller’s responsibility to clarify the problem and, if justified, refund the purchase price, but at the same time, we should carefully consider whether it is worth ordering from abroad a few weeks before Christmas.