European e-Justice Portal

Case Details
- National ID: Slovak Trade Inspection, 14.01.2008 ref. code: P/411/2/2007
- Member State: Slovakia
- Common Name:link
- Decision type: Administrative decision, first degree
- Decision date: 14/01/2008
- Court: Slovak Trade Inspection, Trnava Slovak Trade Inspection, Inspectorate with its registered seat in Trnava, Trnava region
- Subject:
- Plaintiff:
- Defendant: Športka, a.s., registered seat: Trnavská cesta 37, 832 96 Bratislava, Id.Nr. : 31 340 831
- Keywords: discounts, misleading commercial practices, misleading price, misleading statements, price information, price reductions, special offer

Directive Articles

Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, Chapter 2, Article 5, 4. Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, Chapter 2, Section 1, Article 6, 1., (d)
Headnote

It is a misleading practice to mention two prices for the same good, while also simultaneously announcing significant reductions that are not effectively applied upon payment. A trader that is advertising discounts by using an expression such as "a discount up to 70% possible" should give discounts at this exact rate and not lower.
Facts

The defendant, a trader, marked its goods with two prices. One of these goods had a price sheet with a price in the amount of 790 Slovak crowns, and another price in the amount of 590 Slovak crowns. This price sheet also mentioned that "a discount of up to 70% is possible". The inspectors bought this good and had to pay 590 Slovak crowns, which presented only a 25,3% discount.

The conduct also concerned other goods of the trader.
Legal issue

The Slovak Trade Inspection decided that the trader's conduct constituted a breach of the Slovak Consumer Protection Act. According to the Slovak Trade Inspection, the trader had used unclear discount statements to mislead the consumer. In this way, the trader deceived the consumer and distorted the economic behavior of the average consumer.
Decision

Is it a misleading practice to mention two prices for the same good, while simultaneously announcing significant reductions that are not effectively applied upon payment?

Full text: Full text
Related Cases

No results available
Legal Literature

No results available
Result

The Slovak Trade Inspection imposed a fine of 5.000 Slovak crowns (about 166 EUR).

Full text

SLOVENSKÁ OBCHODNÁ INŠPEKCIA

Inšpektorát SOI so sídlom v Trnave pre Trnavský kraj

Trhová 2, 917 01 T r n a v a

                   –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-

Číslo: P/411/2/2007                                                                                                              Dňa: 14.01.2008

Slovenská obchodná inšpekcia, Inšpektorát SOI so sídlom v Trnave pre Trnavský kraj, ako príslušný správny orgán podľa § 3 ods. 1, ods. 2 písm. b), § 4 ods. 1 zákona NR SR č. 128/2002 Z.z. o štátnej kontrole vnútorného trhu vo veciach ochrany spotrebiteľa a § 20 ods. 1 zákona NR SR č. 250/2007 Z.z. o ochrane spotrebiteľa a o zmene zákona Slovenskej národnej rady č. 372/1990 Zb. o priestupkoch v znení neskorších predpisov, podľa § 4 ods. 2 písm. g) zákona NR SR č. 128/2002 Z.z. o štátnej kontrole vnútorného trhu vo veciach ochrany spotrebiteľa

ukladá účastníkovi konania :

obchodné meno :    Športka, a.s.

sídlo :            Trnavská cesta 37, 832 96 Bratislava

IČO :            31 340 831

   pre porušenie § 7 ods. 1 zákona č. 250/2007 Z.z. o ochrane spotrebiteľa a o zmene zákona Slovenskej národnej rady č. 372/1990 Zb. o priestupkoch v znení neskorších predpisov, ktorým sa zakazujú nekalé obchodné praktiky,

   podľa § 24 ods. 1 zákona NR SR č. 250/2007 Z.z. o ochrane spotrebiteľa v znení neskorších predpisov



   p o k u t u





   vo výške : 5 000,– Sk (slovom : päťtisíc slovenských korún),



   ktorú je účastník konania povinný zaplatiť do 15 dní odo dňa právoplatnosti priloženou poštovou poukážkou alebo príkazom na úhradu na účet : Štátna pokladnica, Bratislava, č.ú.: 7000065068, numerický kód : 8180, VS : 04110207.









   O d ô v o d n e n i e:

Case law

Full text