October 6, 2023 – The European Parliament confirmed the final agreement on distance contracts for financial services. The accepted proposals of the Croatian MEP Biljana Borzan on the introduction of the so-called cancel button will make online shopping in Croatia even easier.
“As soon as we go online, we are offered to buy something. Whether we’re reading the news, or chatting with friends, ads always find us. In addition, a false impression is often created that it is a short-term sale or a limited quantity of goods, so customers often make a hasty decision. However, when they regret the decision, they often realize that it is much more difficult to get out of the contract than it was to enter it. That is why I am really happy that we were able to negotiate the introduction of the so-called cancellation button, a simple tool with which the consumer can cancel a purchase made online in two clicks. I believe it will lead to a small revolution in online shopping,” explains Biljana Borzan.
Online Shopping in Croatia on the Rise
In Croatia, writes Poslovni, online shopping has been on the rise, especially after the pandemic. Every third citizen regularly buys online.
“Every day, I receive inquiries from citizens about their rights when shopping online. They are often not satisfied with the purchase, but almost half never take any action because they believe the process will take a long time and that the amounts involved are small. A quarter believes that the procedure for terminating the contract is too complicated. With the new regulation, the cancellation button will be visible, and the consumer will be able to click it within 14 days of concluding the contract, if they were well informed about the terms of the contract. If they are not well informed about the terms of the contract, then they can withdraw their purchase within a year and 14 days”, explains Borzan.
Borzan announces that the changes regarding contract termination will also apply to other forms of distance shopping.
“Almost half of European citizens say that they have been pressured to buy something by phone or text. The right to easily cancel the contract will apply to every purchase outside a physical shop, including purchases from so-called sellers at the doorstep. This is great news, especially for the most vulnerable citizens who are often victims of such scams,” explains Borzan.
