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Case Details
- National ID: 47/1999/1
- Member State: Malta
- Common Name:Commonwealth Educational Society vsVictor Debono
- Decision type: Other
- Decision date: 12/06/2003
- Court: Qorti tal-Magistrati (Court of first instance)
- Subject:
- Plaintiff:
- Defendant:
- Keywords:

Directive Articles

Doorstep Selling Directive, Article 4
Headnote

In canceling a doorstep contract (this in relation to law as it was prior to the 2000 amendments to the Doorstep Contracts Act) a consumer in order to avail himself of the faculty of canceling within the 15 day cooling off period, must do so in accordance with the procedure established at law. At that time a consumer could cancel a contract only by using the cancellation form provided to him by the door-to-door salesman, and delivering the said form either personally or by registered mail to the trader.
Facts

Plaintiffs Commonwealth Educational Society sued defendant to pay the sum of Lm335 being the price of books allegedly purchased by the consumer following the signing of a doorstep contract. The trader claimed that consumer was acting in breach of his contractual obligations in refusing to accept delivery of the books and to pay for them.

In this case defendant raised three preliminary pleas which were not related to the Door-to-Door Salesmen Act (this Act was in 2000 renamed the “Doorstep Contracts Act”) namely that:

i) the proceedings by plaintiff company had lapsed due to prescription under the Civil Code,
ii) proceedings should have been instituted also against defendant’s wife as the agreement with plaintiff company formed part of the community of acquests,
iii) that plaintiff company did not have the juridical representation of its foreign principals.

All three pleas were rejected by the Court.

The consumer also raised the plea that no payment was due to the trader as he had cancelled the contract within the 15 days period. Consumer stated that he had refused to buy the books, but that the salesman had insisted that the consumer signs “a paper” without explaining anything other that to say that if the consumer did not want the books he could send the “paper” back, Consumer said that he did in fact return this “paper” to the trader within the period communicated to him by the salesman. Consumer further stated that he never received any books from the trader. Consumer stated that on various occasions he had informed representatives of the trader that it was never his intention to purchase the books in question and that any order he may have made was at the insistence of the salesman.

The Court did not uphold this plea deciding that the consumer had not followed the correct procedure under the Door-to-Door Salesmen Act and that consequently the consumer had to pay to the full amounts being requested by the trader including interests and court expenses.
Legal issue

In the context of the Door-to-Door Salesmen Act, the Court noted that the consumer accepted that no payment was made and that the consumer was contending that the contract was cancelled as he had sent the cancellation form within the 15 days cooling off period in accordance with article 8 of the said Act.

The Court however held that the consumer did not correctly follow the process under article 8 of the Act in cancelling the doorstep contract he had signed to, as he did not sign the cancellation declaration and failed to deliver the said declaration personally or send it by registered mail, this in according to the law as it was in 1997.

Article 8 of the Act then (that is prior to 2000 amendments – this case arose in 1997) required that cancellation be effected by using the cancellation form provided by the trader, which form had to be delivered in person to the trader or else sent by registered mail within the 15 days period. The Court noted that consumer was not justified in failing to use a procedure other than that stated at law and moreover noted that consumer prejudiced his interests when he failed to send the letter by registered mail. The Court noted that the special privilege of cancelling a doorstep contract unilaterally is intended to give the consumers time to understand the agreement and if need be, seek advice. The Court noted that the fact that consumer did not bother to read the contract was no justification for him to avoid the effects of valid agreement.

The Court further noted that consumer did not sufficiently prove his contention that he had signed the contract under pressure from the salesman.

(Note: It should be noted that in 2000 article 8 was amended. Until then the consumer in cancelling a doorstep contact was required to deliver the cancellation form either personally or send it by registered mail. After the 2000 amendments the measures under article 8 were amended empowering a consumer to cancel a contract by word of month, by telephone or telefax message or by delivery either by hand or ordinary or registered mail. Furthermore in cancelling such contracts a consumer post 2000 is no longer required to avail himself of the cancellation form given to him by the trader but may do so “in any manner provided the intention is substantially conveyed by the consumer to the door-to-door seller or the trader or whose behalf he is acting”).
Decision

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Kopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 1 minn 9Qrati tal-Gustizzja
MALTA
QORTI TAL-MAGISTRATI (MALTA)
MAGISTRAT DR.DENNIS MONTEBELLO
Seduta tat-12 ta' Gunju, 2003
Avvi$Z Numru. 47/1999/1
Avviz Nru 47/99DM
Commonwealth Educational Society
Vs
Victor DebonoI l-Qorti
Ratl-avviztal-atturighall-kundannatal-konvenutsabiexjhallas is-somma ta’ tlett mija u hamsa u tletinLira Maltija(Lm335.00c) import tal-prezz ta’ diversi kotba lil-konvenutmibjughaukkonsenjati mill-istesssocjetaattriciskondliskrittura tal-18ta’Gunju,1997(Dok“A”)kifukolllimghaxijiet legalisal-hlaseffettivudanaprevjadikjarazzjoni illi l-konvenut ddekada mill-beneficju tal-modKopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 2 minn 9Qrati tal-Gustizzjautat-terminukiflil-konvenutkoncessmill-istesssocjetaattricifl-istessSkrittura,udanasenjatamentsewminhabbal-ksurtal-obbligikuntrattwalitieghufir-rigwardtal-konsenjatal-kotbalikellhomjigumill-konvenutaccettatiperoeffettivamentgewmill-konvenutrifjutatimetar-rappresentanttas-socjeta’attriciwasalbiexjikkonsenjahhomlhu fit-terminu previst fl-iskrittura, kif ukollminhabbal-inadempjenzadapartital-konvenutrigwardantil-kondizzjonital-hlastal-prezztal-kotbakifindikatfl-istessskritturapermezzta’pagamentiratealimensilili, aiterminital-iskrittura, kellhomjibdewjigu millkonvenut effettwatilis-socjetaattricib’effettmit-18ta’Awissu1997,bir-ratata’Lm9.00ckullwiehed,izdalibaqghu ma sarux.
Bl-ispejjezkomprizi dawktal-ittralegalital-1ta’Lulju,1998,kifukolltac-Cedolata’Deposituprezentatakontestwalmentkontral-konvenut,ligie nguntsabiexjidher ghas-subizzjoni.
Ratin-notatal-eccezzjonijiettal-konvenutVictorDebonofejn eccepixxa:

1.Preliminarjamentil-preskrizzjonitat-talbaattrici atenurta’l-artikolu 2148tal-Kasp 16 tal-Ligijietta’Malta
2.Illiminghajrpregudizzjughall-ewweleccezzjoni,il-gudizzju mhuwiexintegrustanteli martilkonvenut ma gietx imharrka
3.Illiinoltreu minghajrpregudizzjughall-ewwelzewg eccezzjonijiet,is-socjeta attrici ghandha qabelxejniggibprovatar-rapprezentanzaguridikaul-interessguridiku li ghandha in konnessjoni mal-kawza odjerna;
4.Illiminghajrpregudizzjughas-suespost,ittalba attrici ghandhatigirespinta bl-ispejjez stanteli m’hidovuta l-ebda somma lis-socjeta attrici kif ser jigi ppruvatwaqt it-trattazzjoni tal-kawza;
5.Salv eccezzjonijiet ulterjuri.
Ratid-dikjarazzjonital-konvenutVictorDebonofejnirrileva illi:-
Kopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 3 minn 9Qrati tal-Gustizzja1HuwakiengieavvicinatminncertuGodwinAquilina li offrielu li jibieghu xi kotba2Huwa ma kienx interessat u ghalhekk irrifjuta lijixtrihom3MandankolluGodwinAquilinainsistalihuwajiffirma xi karta minghajr ma spjegalu xejn, ghajr li jekk majridx jaccetta l-kotba huwa jista’ jibghat din il-kart lura;4Huwafil-fattirritorna dinil-kartlurafit-terminuli qallu Godwin Qauilina, u b’hekk rega’ ikkonfermalu li maxtaqx jixtri l-kotba in kwistjoni;5Ghallkuntrarjuta’dakliddikjaratis-socjetaattrici,huwaqatt marcievakotba,la minghandGodwinAquilina u lanqas minghand l-istess socjeta attrici;6Huwainformadiversidrabikemmlis-socjetaattricikifukolllilGodwinAquilina,sewqabel maffirmakartikifukoll wara,liqatt makienetl-intenzjonitieghulijixtrixikotba,ulikwalsiasiordniliseta’ghamelsaretsforzatament minhabba l-insistenza ta’ Godwin Aquilina;7Inoltrekwalsiasiordniliseta’ghamelilkonvenut giet debitament ikkancellat;8Ghaldaqstanthuwam’ghandujaghtixejnlissocjeta attrici.
Semghet ix-xhieda bil-gurament.
Semghet it-trattazzjoni tad-difensuri tal-partijiet;
Rat id-dokumenti esebiti;
Rat in-noti ta’ osservazzjonijiet tal-kontendenti
Rat l-atti kollha tal-processi; uI kkunsidrat:-
Bl-ewweleccezzjonitieghu,il-konvenuteccepixxalittalba attrici hija preskritta bl-iskadenzatat-18(tmintax)ilxahar atenurtal-Artikolu2148tal-Kap16tal-Ligijietta’Malta.
Kif dejjem gieritenutil-preskrizzjonitibdatiddekorri minnmeta l-kreditur setgha jezercita’ l-azzjoni.Fil-kaz odjern ilKopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 4 minn 9Qrati tal-Gustizzjakumpanijaattriciqedghatitlobb’dawnil-procedurigudizzjarjilitigi kannonizzatakreditricifis-sommata’tlettmija uhamsa utletinlira Maltin(Lm335) prezzta’ kotbamibjughin lill-konvenut fit-18 ta’ Gunju tal-1997.
Fl-istess ftehim l-konvenut kien gie moghti l-beneficcju tat-terminughalhlaspermezzta’ratimensiliegwaliukonsekuttivita’Lm10(ghaxaril-liraMaltin)il-wahdab’effett mit-18t’Awissutal-1997ubil-kundizzjonilif’nuqqas ta’ xi osservanza ta’ xi kundizzjoni, kompriza dikta’l-obbligutal-hlastar-ratifil-pront,il-kumpanija kellha ddritt li titlob l-ammont kollu li jkun dovut.
Ghalhekkkienbissfit-18t’Awissutal-1997,metamathallsitx l-ewwel rata dovuta mill-konvenut, illi l-kumpanija attrici kienet kisbet id-dritt li tesigi l-prezz kollu dovut millkonvenut u setghet ghalhekk tezercita l-azzjoni odjerna.
Ghalhekkdinl-azzjoniillumezercitatamill-kumpanijaattrici,setghettigiezercitatabiss warat-18t’Awissutal- 1997 u mhux qabel.
Ghalhekk minghajr ma hemm bzonn li ssir indagni dwar lapplikabbilita’ o menotal-preskrizzjoni specifika sollevatamill-konvenut,jirrizultaillil-preskrizzjonieccepitata’(18)tmintaxil-xaharkienetghadamaddekorritxmalprezentata tal-avviz, intavolat fit-18 ta’ Jannartal-1999, ul-istess avviz ghalhekk jirrizulta li gie ntavolat entro sew it-
(18) tmintax il-xahar.
Ghaldaqstantil-Qortitirrespingi l-ewwel(1)eccezzjonidwar il-preskrizzjoni.
Dwarit-(2)tienieccezzjoni,fejnil-konvenutqieghedjallegalil-gudizzjumhuxintegru,ghandhujigisollevatmill-ewwelilli minn imkien ma jirrizultali l-atturi qeghdinjagixxukontral-komunjonital-akkwistilitista’tkuntezistibejn il-konvenut u marthu, anzi huwa l-konvenut wahdu ligie citatu dan a bazi tal-kuntratt ta’ bejgh li gie miftiehemma’ l-konvenut esklussivament.
Kopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 5 minn 9Qrati tal-GustizzjaGhalhekkl-atturimhumiexqedjippretendu illid-dejnlitieghuqeghdinjesigul-hlasghandhujkundejntalkomunjoni tal-akkwisti,anzisewwaeskludewlill-martilkonvenut minn dawn il-proceduri.I nfattil-bejghtal-kotbainkwistjonimiftiehembissmallkonvenut wahdu jimplika li l-komunjoni tal-akkwisti setghetma kienetx marbuta bil-ftehim.I nfattil-Prim’Awlatal-Qorti Civilifis-sentenzataghhatas- 16t’Ottubrutal-1998,fil-kawzafl-ismijiet “GodfreyAquilina nominevsJoseph u Mary konjugi Falzon” kienetirritenit hekk:
“Naraw ghalhekk jekk kinitx mehtiega l-firma tal-konvenutJoseph Falzonfuqil-ftehimghax-xirital-kotba,jewkinitxbizzejjedil-firmata’ martul-konvenutal-ohrabiextorbotlill-komunjoni ta’ l-akkwisti.
L-Art1322tal-KodiciCivilijghidlil-amministrazzjoniordinarja ta’ l-akkwisti tmiss lil kull wiehed jew wahda millmizzewgin, waqtlil-amministrazzjonistraordinarjatmissliz-zewg mizzewginflimkien. Ghalhekkirridunarawjekkix-xiri tal-kotba kienx att ta’ amministrazzjoni ordinarja jewstraordinarja.
Fostl-attilijitqiesuta’amministrazzjoni straordinarja,l- Art. 1322 (3), para (g) isemmi:

(g)l-akkwistta’proprjeta mobblijewta’xijeddta’uzajewtgawdijata’ xi proprjeta mobblijewimmobblililprezz tieghumajithallasxmal-konsenjajewqabel,izdadan majapplikaxghalxidejn maghmulghall-htigiettalfamilja skond il-paragrafu (5) ta’ l-Artikolu 1327, jew ghallkiri ta’mobblijewimmobblimetal-prezztieghujkunmoderat metatqabblu mal-kondizzjonital-familjaul-kirjatkun ghal zmien qasir.
Fil-kaztallumil-prezztal-kotbakellujithallasbin-nifs;ghalhekk,biexid-dejnjorbotlill-komunjonirridunarawjekkghaldanid-dejnighoddxdaklijghidil-paragrafu(c)tal-Art. 1327:Kopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 6 minn 9Qrati tal-Gustizzja
1327.Blahsaraghad-disposizzjoniietta’l- Artikolu1329,il-benilijkunupartimill-komunjonitalakkwisti jbatu biss id-djun li gejjin:

(a)…………….. omissis………

(b)…………….omissis………

(c)L-ispejjezul-obbligi,ukolljekkisiruseparatament,ghall-htigijiet tal-familja maghduda dawk ghall-edukazzjoniu trobbija ta’ l-ulied;
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Ghalhekk, billi ma ngiebet ebda xiehda biex turi li l-kotbakienub’ximodmehtiegaghall-edukazzjonita’l-ulied,lewwel parti ta’ l-eccezzjoni serja tintlaqa’ fis-sens li d-dejnghall-prezz tal-kotba ma hux dejn tal-komunjoni.I l-konvenut ghalhekk huwa dejjem marbut ghall-kuntratt liffirma izda dan bil-beni parafernali tieghu.
Ghaldaqstantil-Qortiqedghatichaddinit-tieni(2)eccezzjoni sollevata mill-konvenut.
Fir-rigwardtat-tielet(3)eccezzjonigietesebitaid-debitaprokurafavurGodfreyAquilinafejngieawtorizzatjiehupassi gudizzjarji f’isem il-kumpanija attrici u ghalhekk din leccezzjoni ma timmeritax ezami ulterjuri.
Fil-mertu l-konvenut jaccetta li ma ghamel ebda pagamentmifthem anzi isosstni li ma hu dovut xejn lill-atturi..
Kifjirrizultamid-dikjarazzjonitieghudanghamlumhuxghaliexqedjikkontestal-validita’tal-kuntrattminnhuffirmatfit-18ta’ Gunjutal-1997izdaghaliexisosstnililistess kuntrattgievalidamentikkancellatbl-ispedizzjonital-‘cancellationform’entrot-terminuta’hmistax(15)ilKopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 7 minn 9Qrati tal-Gustizzjajum stipulat fl-istess kuntratt u kif kien jiddisponi fl-1997 l- Artikolu 8 tal-Kap 317 tal-Ligijiet ta’ Malta.
Danl-Artikolu8fizmiental-ftehiminkwistjonikienjipprovdi illi:
8(1)Kuntrattmaghmulfuql-ghatbatal-bieb majkunxjorbotukonklusivjekkdanikunkancellatskondkifhawniktar ‘il-quddiem ipprovdut.

(2)Kancellament ta’ kuntratt maghmul fuq l-ghatbatal-bieb isir bil-kunsinna, sew bl-idejn jew permezz ta’ ittraregistratafl-indirizzpermanentital-bejjieghbiebb’bieb jewta’minnjipjegah,ta’dikjarazzjonita’kancellamentiffirmata mill-konsumatur.

(3)Id-dikjarazzjonita’kancellamentghandhatkunskond il-formola kifmurija fl-Iskeda li tinstab ma dan l-Att. Il-formolata’kancellamentghandhatinhemez mal-kopjata’ l-iskrittura privata li tinzamm mill-konsumatur, u jekk ilkonsumatur jaghzellijikkancellakuntrttmaghmulfuqghatbatal-biebhuwaghandujiffirmadikil-formolaujikkunsinnaha lill-bejjiegh bieb b’bieb jew lil min jimpjegahfizmien hmistax-il-gurnata mid-datata’l-iskrittura privatajewfizmiendakilperjoduitwallijista’jigistipulatfliskrittura privata.
Mill-provi prodotti mill-istess konvenut perojirrizulta lilprovvedimenti ta’danl-artikolu makienuxgewosservatiminnhuughalhekkmajistghaxjippretendi lighandhujibbenefika minn dan il-privilegg lilhu akkordat fejn setghaunilateralmentjikkancellakuntrattvaliduta’bejghmiftiehem ma terza persuna.I nfatti,irrespettivament mill-kwistjonijekkil-bustaspeditamill-konvenut waslitxghandil-bejghsat-3ta’Lulju1997,ossiafi(15)hmistaxil-jum,il-konvenutlaiffirmaddikjarazzjoni ta’kancellamentulanqasmaghamelilkunsinna personalment jew bil-posta registrata.I l-konvenut qatt ma jistgha jkun gustifikat li juza proceduraohra oltre dik specjali u preciza dettata mill-ligi applikabbliKopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 8 minn 9Qrati tal-Gustizzjafiz-zmien tal-kuntratt.Inoltre bin-nuqqas ta’ registrazzjonil-konvenutipprekludaruhuminnkullprovata’ottempranza mat-terminu applikabbli ghal kunsinna.
Lanqas ma tirrizulta sufficjentement l-allegazzjoni biss talkonvenut limafehemxsewit-terminital-kuntratt,jewlikien iffirma l-istess kuntratt taht pressjoni.I l-privileggspecjalita’kancellamentunilateralifit-terminuta’(15)hmistaxil-jumhuwaappuntuintizbiexjakkordazmienlix-xerrejsabiexjifhemsewujekkhemmbzonnjiehu parir dwar il-ftehim tal-bejgh li jkun iffirma u dwar ilkundizzjonijiet kollharelattivi; kifukollb’danl-istessprivilegg ix-xerrej ikun inghata wkoll il-fakolta’ li jikkunsidrabil-kalmajekkjkunxiridjonora l-istessftehimlijkuniffirma.
L-irresponsabbilta’ tal-konvenut u marthu li ma ndenjawx lialmenujaqrawil-kuntrattmatistaxisservita’gustifikazzjonibiex humajkunujistghujevitawl-effettita’ftehim validu li lahqu ma terzi persuni.
Fl-ahharnett,fin-notatal-osservazzjonijiettieghu,ilkonvenut jippretendilin-nuqqas ta’konsenjata’kotbatimplikaratifikatal-kancellamentpretizutipprekludilillattur millijesigil-prezz,izdal-provijistabbilixxuanzililkunsinna tal-kotbakieneteffettivamentsaretskondilftehim izda dawnil-kotba kienu gewrifjutati ulanqas magietikkontestatad-deposizzjoniguramentatata’ GodfreyAquilinalidawnil-kotbageweffettivamentukontestwalment mal-avviz depositati favur il-konvenut tahtl-awtorita tal-Qorti.
Ghaldaqstantissibillil-ebdawahdamill-eccezzjonijietsollevatimill-konvenutmatimmeritalitigimilqughaukonsegwentement qeghda tirrespingi dawn l-eccezzjonijietutilqa’t-talbaattriciutikkundannalill-konvenutsabiexghar-ragunijietindikatifl-avvizhuwahallaslis-socjetaattricis-somma mitlubata’Lm335(tlett mijauhamsautletin lira Maltin) filwaqt illi tiddikjara illi dan l-ammont kolluhuwadovutperessillil-konvenutiddekada mill-beneficjuKopja Informali ta' SentenzaPagna 9 minn 9Qrati tal-Gustizzjatat-terminu ghal-hlas lilhu koncess bil-kuntratt minhabba linaqas li jhallas ir-rati mensili pattwiti kif obbligat.I l-konvenuthuwakkundannatukollsabiexihallaslimghaxijiet legali b’effett mit-12ta’ Jannar tal-1999;
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