A company selling health supplements are at the moment doing marketing in several European countries for free trials on their vitamin pills. Numbers from ECC Norway and other ECCs show that this “free trial” creates an unpleasant situation for consumers.
Most of the consumers who sign up for a free trial end up with a subscription they never wanted. This is a classic example of a subscription trap. It is illegal to start a subscription if the consumer never signed up to it.
– If you have not willingly entered into a subscription, you should send an email or letter to the trader telling them that you never wanted a subscription. This is the clear message from ECCs director in Norway, Linn Hogner Jahr.
Don’t be scared of the afterpay service
Do not be scared if an invoice comes from another company on behalf of the trader. If you do not pay this invoice, the company will probably send you another invoice with interest.
You should also know that you as the consumer are not obligated to send the package with vitamins back to the trader if you did not enter into a subscription agreement. If the company want the vitamins back, they have to send you a return slip and pay for the shipping of the package.
A warning to the traders
In January The Norwegian Consumer Authority sent a letter to the industry that sells health and beauty supplements to consumers online. The letter provides information and guidance concerning the requirements prescribed by law for consumers entering into subscriptions. The guidance given will have an impact on any subsequent supervision and questions concering use of sanctions.