Portal Ewropew e-Ġustizzja

Dettalji tal-Każ
- ID Nazzjonali: 615/99SM
- Stat Membru: Malta
- Isem Komuni:Commonwealth Educational Society LimitedvsSaviour and Bernardette spouses Saliba
- Tip ta’ deċiżjoni: Oħrajn
- Data tad-Deċiżjoni: 14/01/2002
- Qorti: Qorti ta’ l-Appell
- Suġġett:
- Rikorrent:
- Intimat:
- Kliem Prinċipali:

Artikoli tad-Direttiva

Doorstep Selling Directive, Article 4 Doorstep Selling Directive, Article 5
Nota Introduttiva

1. The fifteen days cooling off period during which one can cancel a doorstep contract commences from the date of the signing of the contract and not from when the goods are delivered to the consumer.
2. A consumer can only cancel a doorstep contract in accordance with the procedure as established at law – namely by delivering in person or by registered post the cancellation form to the trader.
Fatti

This decision by the Court of Appeal was given following an appeal by the trader - Commonwealth Educational Society Limited – contesting the decision of the Court of Magistrates (Malta).

The trader had filed a lawsuit before the Court of Magistrates claiming payment from consumers for the books sold further to a doorstep contract made in December 1997. Consumers raised various pleas contesting the claims of the trader. These included that:
· the trader’s claims were unfounded as the consent of the consumers was obtained following excessive pressure,
· the consumers had endeavoured to do all that was possible to cancel the agreement within the prescribed period (of 15 days),
· that the books were not of the agreed quality.

The court of first instance whilst rejecting the first two pleas, upheld the third plea of the consumers as the trader failed to deliver the books a week after the lapse of the 15 days period by when the consumers could exercise their right to cancel. This Court held that this delay had prejudiced consumers in that they did not have the faculty of examining the books in question and of therefore being in a position to make an informed choice on whether to cancel or not.

The trader contested this decision before the Court of Appeal which Court upheld the appeal and revoked the decision of the court of first instance whilst it acceded to the trader’s request that consumers pay the amounts due awarding court expenses against consumers.

(Note: this case relates to issues which arose in 1997 that is prior to the 2000 amendments to the Doorstep Contracts Act).
Kwistjonijiet legali
Deċiżjoni

The Court of Appeal in its decision referred to the content of the agreement signed between the trader and the consumers in particular that the delivery had to be effected within 60 days of the signing of the contract. The Court noted that in the contract there was no requirement that delivery had to made as soon as the agreement was concluded or that the consumers had the opportunity for a period of 15 days or more to examine the books left in their possession after delivery. The Court held that there was nothing in the contract of purchase which indicated that the rights of the consumers were prejudiced because of a breach of the terms of the said contract by the trader.

The Court disagreed with the contention of consumers that the period of 15 days in which they could cancel the contract commenced from the date of delivery of the books. The Court held that this right as alleged by the consumers did not result from the Door-to-Door Salesmen Act. The Court said that whilst the law did impose a cooling off period of 15 days, this was meant to give the consumer a chance to reconsider matters after the signing of the contract. The Court further noted that it was up to the consumer to inform himself properly about the quality of the goods being purchased. If he was not in a position to do so or if the books were not delivered within the period of 15 days after the signing of the contract, then it was up to the consumer to avail himself of the rights given to him at law to cancel the contract within the said 15 day cooling off period.

The Court also did not accept the argument that consumers had tried to contact the trader but did not manage to do so. The law (as it was then) clearly established that a consumer could only cancel the contract by delivering either in person or by registered post the cancellation form within 15 cooling off days period to the trader.

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App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 1 QORTI TA’ L-APPELL (SEDE INFERJURI) S.T.O. JOSEPH SAID PULLICINO B.A. (HONS.) LL.D. - PRESIDENT Seduta ta’ nhar it-Tnejn, 14 ta’ Jannar, 2002 Numru 1 Avviz numru: 615/99
SM Commonwealth Educational Society Ltd.vs Saviour u Bernardette konjugi Saliba Il-Qorti, Is-Sentenza appellata Fit-12 ta' Dicembru tas-sena 2000 il-Qorti tal-Magistrati (Malta) ppronunzjat is-segwenti sentenza fil-kawzafl-ismijiet premessi. App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 2

“Il-Qorti, Rat l-avviz fuq indikat datat id-29 t’April ta’ l-1999 li permezz tieghu s-socjeta’ attrici sejhet lill-konvenuti quddiem din il-qorti sabiex jghidu ghaliex m’ghandhomx ikunu kkundannati:
1. Ihallsu lill-attur nomine s-somma ta’ mitejn tmienja u sittin liri Maltin (LM268) import tal-prezz ta’ diversi kotba lilhom mibjugha u kkonsenjati mill-attur nomine skond liskrittura tas-17 ta’ Dicembru, 1997 (Dok.A) kif ukoll limghaxijiet legali sal-hlas effettiv, u dana prevja dikjarazzjoni illi huma iddekadew mill-beneficju tal-mod u tat-terminu kif lilhom koncess mill-attur nomine fl-istess skrittura, u dan minhabba l-inadempjenza da parti taghhom rigwardanti l-kondizzjoni tal-hlas tal-kotba kif indikat fl-istess skrittura permezz ta’ pagamenti rateali mensili li, ai termini tal-iskrittura, kellhom jibdew jigu minnhom effettwati lill-atttur nomine b’effett mis-17 ta’ Marzu, 1998, bir-rata ta’ LM9.72c kull wiehed izda li baqghu ma sarux;
2. Bl-ispejjes komprizi dawk tal-ittra legali tat-22 ta’ Frar, 1999 kontra l-konvenuti li huma ngunti sabiex jidhru ghas-subizzjoni; Rat in-nota ta’ l-eccezzjonijet datat d-9 ta’ Gunju ta’ l- 1999 li permezz taghha eccepew is-segwenti:
1. Preliminarjament, Godfrey Aquilina irid jghati prova tal-mandat tieghu sabiex jipprocedi gudizzjarjament ghan-nom tas-socjeta’ attrici Commonwealth Educational Society Limited kontra l-eccipjenti;
2. Illi t-talbiet attrici huma nfondati fil-fatt u fid-dritt stante illi l-kunsens tal-konvenuti gie karpit bi pressjoni ndebita;
3. Illi in oltre l-konvenuti ghamlu l-isforzi kollha biex jinforzaw id-dritt taghhom tal-kancellament entro tterminu pattwit;
4. Illi in oltre l-konvenuti ddepozitaw il-kotba de quo taht l-awtorita’ tal-Qorti stante wkoll illi dawn i-kotba m’humiex tal-kwalita’ pattwita u tal-livell mixtieq; App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 3 5 Salvi eccezzjonijiet ohra; Semghet ix-xhieda prodotta; Rat id-dokumenti esebiti; Semghet it-trattazzjoni orali tar-rapprezentanti legali talpartijiet; I kkonsidrat: I lli l-fatti li taw lok ghall-procedura odjerna tista’ tigi sintetikament kompilata bil-mod segwenti:
1. Illi l-kuntratt in dizamina gie konkluz bejn il-partijiet fiz- 17 ta’ Dicembru ta’ l-1997;
2. Illi l-ordni in dizamina giet iffirmata mill-konvenuti lkonjugi Saliba;
3. Illi rapprezentant tas-socjeta’ attrici kkonferma li kien ukoll fihem lill-konvenuti bid-dritt taghhom li jikkancellaw dan l-ordni fi zmien hmistax-il gurnata mid-data talkuntratt;
4. Illi skond l-istess xhud il-konsenja saret tlett gimghat wara d-data tal-kuntratt ghalkemm din ma tidhirx fiddokument tal-konsenja;
5. Illi l-konvenuti ma onorawx il-kuntratt de quo u ghalhekk ittiehdet din il-procedura; I kkonsidrat: I llli rigward l-ewwel eccezzjoni tal-konvenuti ghandu jinghad li l-kawza giet intavolata mis-socjeta’ stess u mhux mir-rapprezentant taghha; I lli ghalhekk, l-ewwel eccezzjoni hi michuda; I kkonsidrat: I lli l-konvenuti ma resqu l-ebda prova konvincenti li permezz taghha setghu jsostnu t-tieni eccezzjoni; I lli ghalhekk, it-tieni eccezzjoni hi michuda; App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 4 I kkonsidrat: I lli pero’ jirrizulta li l-konsenja giet effettwata mis-socjeta’ attrici abbundantement gimgha wara l-iskadenza li listess konvenuti kellhom biex jikkancellaw il-kuntratt pattwit bejniethom; I lli tali morozita’ ippregudikat lill-konvenuti stante li ma kellhomx il-possibilita’ jezaminaw il-kotba in dizamina biex b’hekk ikunu f’posizzjoni jiffurmaw konkluzzjoni studajta fit-termini ta’ l-istess kuntratt; I lli ghalhekk dan id-dewmien ippregudika l-istess kondizzjonijiet pattwiti u irrenda tali kondizzjonijiet vizjati bi pregudizzju ghad-dritt ta’ decizjoni informata talkonvenuti; Ghaldaqstant din il-qorti tiddeciedi li tichad it-talbiet attrici bl-ispejjez.” Konsiderazzjonijiet ta' din il-Qorti Is-socjeta' attrici appellat minn din is-sentenza. Din il-Qorti ezaminat l-atti processwali fid-dawl ta' l-aggravju sottomess u ssib li dan l-appell jirrizulta sostnut. Fil-meritu, l-Ewwel Qorti dehrilha li una volta kien jirrizulta li lkonsenja tal-kotba kienet giet effettwata mis-socjeta' attrici aktar minn gimgha wara l-iskadenza li l-istess konvenuti kellhom biex jikkancellaw il-kuntratt pattwit bejniethom din kienet morozita' illi ppregudikat lill-konvenuti illi ma kellhomx App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 5 il-possibbilita' jezaminaw il-kotba in kwistjoni. Qari tal-ftehim bejn il-kontendenti juri b'mod car illi fil-waqt illi "cancellation can be made by the delivery within fifteen days of the declaration of cancellation hereto attached either by hand or by registered post at the local representative's address" issocjeta' venditrici attrici ggarantit "home deliveries of all merchandise" u assigurat ukoll illi tali konsenja "will not exceed sixty days from the date of this agreement". Dawn ilklawsoli bla ebda dubbju kienu jfissru illi kien espressament konvenut li l-konsenja tal-kotba setghet issir sa zmien sittin jum mid-data tal-firma tal-ftehim. Ma kien hemm imkien miftiehem illi l-konsenja tal-kotba kellha ssir appena l-ftehim jigi konkluz jew li l-kompratur kellu jinghata l-opportunita' li ghall-hmistax-il gurnata jew aktar jezamina l-kotba li jithallew fil-pussess tieghu materjalment biex ikun jista' jistudjahom u jevalwahom. Indubbjament allura mill-kuntratt innifsu ma setghet qatt tirrizulta l-morozita' ravvizata fis-sentenza appellata u li, skond hi, ppregudikat lill-konvenuti bi vjolazzjoni tal-kondizzjonijiet pattwiti proprju ghaliex, jekk xejn, il-kuntratt jindika l-oppost. Is-sentenza appellata tirrizulta allura skorretta in kwantu u sa fejn hi bbazata fuq konsiderazzjonijiet li jemanu mill-kondizzjonijiet pattwiti. App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 6 Il-konvenuti qeghdin jippretendu - u f'dan donnu sabu konfort mill-Qorti ta' Prim'Istanza - illi l-ligi specjali illi tirregola l-attivita' tad-Door to Door Salesman, il-Kap. 317, kien jakkordalhom zmien hmistax-il jum biex ihassru l-kuntratt u jirrecedu millftehim mhux mid-data tal-firma tal-kuntratt imma mid-data talkonsenja lilhom tal-merkanzija, f'dan il-kaz kotba. Di fatti huma jissottomettu illi l-legislatur haseb ghall-perjodu ta' zmien entro liema l-kompratur kellu jkollu l-opportunita' biex jezamina sewwa l-prodott u jerga' jahsibha jekk jara li tali prodott mhux ta' kwalita' u jekk jidhirlu illi ma ghandux bzonn il-prodott. Huma jargumentaw, u f'dan gew sostnuti mill- Ewwel Qorti, illi fil-kaz taghhom il-kotba gew ikkonsenjati lilhom wara li kien diga' skada z-zmien ghalihom utili biex jikkancellaw u b'hekk ma kellhomx il-possibbilita' li jezaminaw il-kotba u jiehdu decizjoni nformata dwarhom. Dan id-dritt pero' ma jirrizultax mil-ligi li timponi t-terminu biss biex taghti opportunita' lill-kompratur biex jerga' jahsibha dwar jekk riedx jew le jikkonferma l-bejgh li jkun diga' ffirma ghalih. Fil-waqt li hu minnu li dak il-perjodu ta' hmistax-il jum jista' jigi kkunsidrat bhala “cooling off period” kif sottomess millappellati l-ligi ma kienet timponi l-ebda obbligu fuq il-venditur biex jittratta lill-kompratur b'mod differenti milli kieku kien App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 7 jittrattah kieku kien qieghed ibieghlu fil-hanut. Kienet biss tizvantaggjah (lill-venditur) sal-punt illi taghti lill-kompratur iddritt illi jhassar il-bejgh proprju biex tevita li dan jigi b'xi mod sorpriz jew indebitament imhajjar biex jikkonkludi n-negozju. Kien u baqa' anke f'dan il-kaz l-interess tal-kompratur li jinforma ruhhu sewwa bil-kwalita' ta' l-oggett li kien behsiebu jakkwista. Hu car illi jekk fil-kaz taht ezami ma kienx f'posizzjoni li jaghmel hekk, jew ghax il-kotba ma gewx tempestivament konsenjati lilu entro l-hmistax-il jum li fih seta' jirrecedi mill-kuntratt jew ghalhiex hu ma setax jivverifika lkwalita' taghhom band'ohra, kien jinkombi fuqu l-obbligu illi fiz-zmien utili lilu fil-ligi koncess jaghmel dak mehtieg biex jikkancella l-ordni li kien ghamel. Fil-verita' l-kuntratt ta' komprovendita' kien konkjuz fil-gurnata meta gie ffirmat ilftehim, anke jekk dan kien soggett ghall-kondizzjoni espressa illi l-ftehim seta' jigi xolt f'kaz illi l-kompratur jaghzel li hekk jaghmel entro z-zmien miftiehem u bil-mod fil-kuntratt prestabbilit. Jirrizulta mill-provi illi qabel ma gie ffirmat il-kuntratt ta' komprovendita' fis-17 ta' Dicembru 1997 il-venditur, f'ezercizzju biex ihajjar lill-kompratur kif kien naturali, ghamel App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 8 demonstration lill-appellati u jurihom xi charts u samples talkotba. Kien ukoll spjegalhom l-import tal-kuntratt u wkoll indikalhom illi setghu jikkancellaw il-ftehim billi jimlew il- Cancellation Form u jwassluha lis-socjeta' attrici minghajr ma jaghtu l-ebda raguni ghad-decizjoni taghhom. Il-konvenuti appellati sostanzjalment jaqblu ma' dawn il-fatti. Din il-Qorti ma tarax allura kif mhux biss ma hadux il-passi biex jikkancellaw l-ordni bil-mod kif espressament miftiehem, imma di piu' ghazlu illi jaccettaw il-konsenja tal-kotba anke jekk ilkonvenuta wriet lir-rapprezentant tas-socjeta' attrici "illi ma ridithomx". Lanqas hi skuza valida s-sottomissjoni illi l-appellati ppruvaw jikkuntattjaw lir-rapprezentant tas-socjeta' attrici imma ma rnexxilhomx. Il-ftehim kien jistipula car u tond skond il-ligi illi d-dikjarazzjoni ta' kancellament kellha tigi konsenjata jew blidejn jew bil-posta registrata fl-indirizz tar-rapprezentant lokali. Anke hawn l-appellati naqsu bil-konsegwenza illi l-posizzjoni legali llum hi illi l-kuntratt kien sallum mhux kancellat. Jekk imbaghad wiehed iqis, ghall-grazzja ta' l-argument biss, illi anke sa hawn l-appellati kellhom ragun, huma certament ma kellhom l-ebda jedd illi jzommu l-kotba fil-pussess taghhom u kien messhom ghaddew ghad-depozitu ta' l-oggetti lilhom App. Inf. Nru: 615/99 9 mibjugha u minnhom suppost rigettati fir-Registru tal-Qorti biex jezimu ruhhom minn kull responsabbilita'. Ezaminata taht kull aspett allura l-motivazzjoni ta' l-Ewwel Qorti ma tistax tigi sostnuta ghax la tirrizulta bazata fit-termini tal-kuntratt, la mill-kelma tal-ligi u wisq anqas millkomportament ambivolenti ta' l-appellati. L-appell tas-socjeta' attrici jirrizulta allura sostnut. Ma hemm l-ebda appell incidentali da parti tal-konvenuti appellati fir-rigward ta' dik ilparti tas-sentenza ta' l-Ewwel Qorti li cahdet l-ewwel zewg eccezzjonijiet taghhom. Ghal dawn il-motivi l-appell qed jigi milqugh u s-sentenza appellata revokata u konsegwentement il-Qorti qed tilqa' ttalba attrici kif dedotta bl-ispejjes taz-zewg istanzi kontra lkonvenuti appellati. Deputat Registratur rf.

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