In 2017, our main focus will be working with finance, housing, health and internet, tv and telecommunication. The digitizing which is now happening in all industries, have made it both easier and more demanding to be a conscious consumer. Therefore, the Consumer Ombudsman will use the coming year to work for the consumers to have the opportunity to make sound decisions also when using new digital services.
– Digitization means that we can buy travels, services and goods online, administer house sales ourselves and check our health using a multitude of new apps. We will work to ensure that business is conducted in a lawful and proper manner also on new platforms, says the Consumer Ombud Elisabeth Lier Haugseth.
Digitizing in housing sales
In housing sales digitizing is changing consumer habits. Both real estate agents and consumers that are handling their own house sales takes greater use of social media, as well as new portals for house marketing. New digital tools are making it easier for the consumer to sell on their own.
– Although the methods are changing, the requirements of marketing and terms remains the same. In times where house buyers can look at houses that do not yet exist by using VR-goggles, it is important that the marketing give a realistic impression of how the house is actually going to be. When the consumer is selling on his own, it is important that it take place in the safest possible way, says Haugseth.
Intensifying the supervision of alternative treatment
New this year is that we will work with consumer issues related to health, and we will intensify the supervision of marketing of alternative medicine. Through supervision, we aim to stop those who market alternative medicine contrary to regulations and those who allow illegal marketing on their platforms.
– The market of alternative medicine is large and complex; with more than 200 different treatments to choose from in Norway. It is important for us that people who seek alternative treatment don’t get the impression that expensive treatments can cure specific diseases and conditions, says the Consumer Ombud Elisabeth Lier Haugseth.
Marketing of consumer loan
Within finance, we will use our resources to work with a broad spectre of cases, from car leasing and savings to insurance. Marketing of consumer loans will also be one of our top priorities this year.
– We will monitor the online operators who use advertising pages, e-mail and google ads to lure customers, so-called affiliate marketing. It seems as if the banks and credit companies don’t have sufficient control of those who are doing marketing on their behalf, says Haugseth.
Internet, TV and tele
Another consumer challenge the ombudsman will work with is hidden marketing in social and editorial media, and a variety of consumer challenges concerning internet, tv and the telecommunications-industry.
Consumers should for instance not be obligated to accept unreasonable conditions to be able to use tv and streaming services. The contract that consumers sign today is unclear on what consumers can claim if the service do not delivered as expected. We have therefore posed a number of requirements to providers of tv and streaming, and will continue working with this in the upcoming months.