September 2009. Cheapest offer for certain type of CRT monitor - 121.90 Euros. Advanced payment from my account in Finland in order to save more money.
Later an announcement that they cannot deliver this item. I canceled the order and wanted back my money.
Not that simple though! The online trader wanted to charge me 12 Euros for the payment back to Finland. I did not have an account in Germany at that time and tried to persuade them to transfer money back to Finland for free. I was not successful.
I felt I have a right to get my money back without any charges. I could have used an account of my German friends at this time. But I had enough time those weeks and felt I like fighting for my rights and the rights of those who would have the same kind of problem one day.
I contacted the European Consumers Center (ECC) and asked them for support. Now it came another disaster.
I contacted the European Consumers Center (ECC) and asked them for support. Now it came another disaster.
First they needed to agree which center will serve me (Finnish, Czech or German?). Next I had to fill-in couple forms, scan an agreement, etc. This was pretty much all they did for me (=nothing).
After many request and weeks of waiting I decided to contact their bosses at European Commission for Consumer's Affair. And it helped.
After many request and weeks of waiting I decided to contact their bosses at European Commission for Consumer's Affair. And it helped.
Finally I got an answer from ECC - the trader is supposedly charged by its bank for the bank transfer, therefore it is ok that I am requested to pay 12 Euros for transferring my money back to Finland. Nonsense - no bank in Euro-zone would break the laws in such simple way - money transfers all over Euro-zone cost the same as local transfers! I had to educate the lawyers of ECC and send links to them so that they could study the regulations on cross-border payments in Euro-zone...
On October 28 I finally got the following answer from ECC in Kehl:
"Dear Mr. Brotanek,
I contacted the trader once more and will keep you informed about the outcome."
I understood it is time to give up... I got a free bank account in Germany and asked the trader to send my money there. After two requests they did it! And I was lucky!!!
Today - February 8, 2010 - my dear friends from ECC finally solved this case:
Today - February 8, 2010 - my dear friends from ECC finally solved this case:
...
In the case mentioned above, we have received new information:
According to the insolvency department of the court (Amtsgericht) Bonn , the trader has declared insolvency. The file number of the insolvency department is 98 IN 22/10.
The contact details of the administrator are:
Rechtsanwalt Peter Staroselski
Godesberger Allee 125-127
53175 Bonn
Tel.: 02 28/8 10 00 56
Fax: 02 28/8 10 00 8 20
E-mail: peter.staroselski@dhpg.de
Since we have only got measures of out of court resolution, we cannot pursue your claim.
We therefore regret that we can’t give you a positive feedback in this case.
...
