Foreign subscription traps

The Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman continues to take action against foreign subscription traps

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Foreign subscription traps

illustration [Converted]The Consumer Ombudsman has in 2015 taken action against several online subscription traps, which through advertising of “free” trial packages mislead consumers into subscriptions on beauty products, dieting supplement or health foods. The CO has swept and cleared the Norwegian market of offenders, but the action continues against foreign subscription traps.

On October 21st 2015 “Forbrukerinspektørene”, a consumer program from the Norwegian broadcaster NRK, reported on networks of foreign subscriptions traps with ramifications to Great Britain, USA, Ireland and other nations. Some of the names/webpages uses by the network are:

  • Perfect Nutrition Store
  • Belle Complex
  • Nature Skin Labs
  • Pure Anti Aging Skin
  • Silk of Morocco
  • True Beauty Mall

Many Norwegian consumers have been misled to order products from these webpages. Consumers have, after ordering what they believed to be a free trial package, suddenly experienced that a large amount of money have been withdrawn from their accounts.

Illegal practices

On most of the webpages used by the network, information about the fact that by accepting, the consumer agrees to enter into a subscription, and information about price, terms and conditions is hidden in a link to the providers Terms and Conditions. This is not in accordance with the requirement of clear provision of the most important information consumers need when shopping online as set out by the European Consumer Rights Directive and Norwegian legislation. In addition, the different webpages often use pictures of persons who are falsely claimed to recommend the products. This is also a violation of European and Norwegian legislation.

– The people behind this network of subscription traps try to hide their traces. We have asked for information from the consumer authorities in Great Britain and the US in order to find the companies and persons responsible and stop the illegal practices, says Frode Elton Haug, Legal Director at the CO.

The Ombudsman is also in dialogue with Facebook on how illegal advertising can be stopped on their platform, and will consider further actions to put an end to this type of fraud.

 

Contact at the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman:

Frode Elton Haug, Legal Director (phone: +47 986 60 566)