Gift Cards Are Like Cash – But Customers Have a Right of Withdrawal
Gift cards are popular with consumers for many reasons. They are easy, last-minute gifts that let the recipient choose something they want. But imagine the following scenario: you order a gift card for your niece at her favourite store. You brag to your sister about it only to find out that the store was last year’s news. She’s moved on to the latest influencer-inspired trend. To be the cool Aunt, you want to return the gift card, so you can buy her one at her new favourite store. As you bought the card online in the EU, you have 14 days to change your mind. So, what do you need to know as a business about the right of withdrawal for gift cards?
EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA): the upcoming obligation to publish number of active recipients in the EU
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) came into force on 16 November 2022. In our previous article on the topic, we introduced some of the key requirements of this new legislation affecting online service providers in the EU. While most of the DSA’s obligations will only start to apply from 17 February 2024, specific transparency obligations will already come into effect from 2023. In this article, we look at this upcoming DSA deadline and outline what it means for online businesses in the EU.
Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) rules: what is expected from e-commerce platforms?
One of the key provisions introduced by PSD2 was a set of security requirements for electronic payment processing, which includes the so-called “strong customer authentication” (SCA). SCA rules have a significant impact on the lives of online businesses and consumers.
What you need to know about the EU’s Proposed General Product Safety Regulation
When the current EU General Product Safety Directive was defined in 2001, e-commerce platforms were just emerging in the European Union (EU). Internet e-commerce was in its infancy, worth around €172 billion, of which 87% was B2B.
Black Friday Do’s and Don’ts for Online Businesses under EU law
Replacement of “Black Friday” with “Green Friday” (they say Green is the new Black), increase in reported shopping scams and high penalties for misleading practices are just some of the complaints and effects associated with certain Black Friday deals and other online sale campaigns.
Legal aspects of gift cards explained for online businesses
Offering gift cards to your consumers can be a great strategy to bring in money. But, if your business sells gift cards to consumers based in the European Union (EU), there are some specific rules you need to follow. So, to help you better understand this thriving market and seize the opportunities for your business while reducing the risks, we’ve compiled the key questions surrounding the implementation of gift cards…
German consumer law imposes new obligations for businesses offering subscriptions
The “subscription economy” has grown five to eight times faster than traditional businesses over the last decade, according to a report by Zuora, a subscription management platform. With just one click, consumers can enter into subscriptions involving a range of goods and services, from utilities and beauty products to streaming platforms.
Key changes for e-commerce platforms operating in the EU
On 7 January 2020, the European Commission adopted the “Omnibus Directive” (Directive(EU) 2019/2161, the “Regulation”), which must be implemented by Member States as of 28 May 2022. EU and non-EU-based online platforms offering products, services, or digital content to consumers must comply with the new requirements.
E-Commerce Marketplaces – Identifying Your Third-Party Sellers
If you operate an e-commerce marketplace in the European Union (EU) you must provide certain pre-contractual mandatory information about the third-party sellers (sellers) on your e-commerce platform to consumers.