The North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center has imposed a fine of 15,000 euros against the mobile phone providers Klarmobil and Freenet because both have not changed the cancellation buttons on their websites despite legally binding judgments. The consumer protection organization has now announced this. Freenet has confirmed the basic facts that apply to the Klarmobil subsidiary brand to heise online. The company said the fact that the changes were not implemented on time after the ruling was due to “internal coordination processes”. The changes have now been implemented and are fully functional.
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Internal hurdles delay implementation
As the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center explains, the two providers were successfully warned in 2022 because no individual reason could be given when terminating a mobile phone contract: “This can occur, for example, in the case of permanent connection problems.” Both were therefore legally convicted, but did not react. But a lawyer from the consumer protection organization has now assured them that they will not be allowed to get away with this. Disciplinary proceedings were therefore initiated against both companies, which have now been completed. Klarmobil and Freenet each have to pay 15,000 euros to the state treasury for disregarding the ruling.
Freenet pointed out to heise online that the button was integrated into the website the entire time. An extraordinary termination was therefore possible without any problems. The only criticism was that another field was missing in which an individual justification could be entered. The programming of such a field was “initiated immediately” after the court’s decision. The fact that this was not activated within the set deadline was due to internal coordination.
Update
28.02.2024,
09:58
Clock
Klarmobil is a brand of Freenet, that has been corrected.
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