Open Day of European Consumer Centre Slovenia

On 15 March, World Consumer Rights Day, ECC Slovenia held its Open Day again after a three-year break. Visitors to the Ljubljana Central Market were offered information and advice on the rights consumers have when shopping at home or abroad by advisors from ECC Slovenia and the Consumer and Competition Protection Division of the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport.

The event focused on the new provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, for which we prepared and distributed an information leaflet covering the key provisions in the area of guarantees and warranties.

Take a look at the photo gallery below to see that it was truly an interesting and diverse event.

To mark this special occasion, the ECC Network has also prepared five smart tips for the next time consumers buy online, which will help them save money and nerves. 

Why “pay now, buy later” is not always a good idea

More and more online shops are offering "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) plans as a payment option. This means that you first receive the goods and pay for them later.

The advantage: You can try out the product before deciding whether you want to keep it. In case of a return, amounts already paid do not have to be refunded since the payment has not been made yet.

The two payment methods of invoice and installment payment merge smoothly into one anotherBNPL often takes the form of a loan agreement, which bears risks. If it is the only way you can afford a certain product, better keep your distance and avoid unintentional accumulation oft debt. Moreover, if you don’t pay in time, you might have to fee additional fees.

Don’t let dark patterns manipulate you

Dark patterns are marketing tricks designed to manipulate us and persuade us to buy a product. These include statements such as, for example "only today 50 percent discount". Identifying dark patterns as such can help let the pressure bounce off you.

Our advice: Take your time and compare prices and alternative products before making a purchase decision.

Why you should double lock your mobile wallet

The Covid19 pandemic has led to a common attempt of touching as few surfaces as possible and contactless payment experienced a veritable boom. More and more consumers even us mobile wallets. In other words, smartphone apps which make it possible to store all bank and credit cards, plus travel tickets and membership data in one single place. But isn't it dangerous to have all this sensitive data somewhere together? What if I get hacked or lose my smartphone? In general, mobile wallets are considered secure. Your data is encrypted and cannot be seen by the trader or other persons.

Nevertheless, we advise you to opt for two-factor authentication and protect your wallet with an additional password, for example.

(Hidden) superpowers of the credit card

Online shops offer different payment methods, each of which has pros and cons. When paying by invoice, you do not have to reveal your bank details to the trader. On the other hand, there is a risk of missing the deadline. Payment services like PayPal or Klarna mostly offer buyer protection. However, in case of a problem, communication can be more complicated, since an additional party is involved.

The credit card is not only considered a secure means of payment, but also holds another advantage: If there is a problem of non-delivery or even fraud, for example, the payment can be cancelled in many cases thanks to a chargeback procedure. To do this, contact your bank.

Important to know: You must be able to prove that you have attempted to clarify the situation with the trader.

How price drop alerts can make your live easier

Ahead of promotion days like Black Friday, some shops raise prices, only to lower them again and market them as discounts.

Our tip: Watch and compare prices for your dream product throughout the year.

You can also set price alerts using free online tools.

Photo: Tadej Bavdek.