> In the reality one needs layers in seller’s and buyer’s countries
That is also not true at all. Under EU consumer law, the consumer can bring a case against the seller in the consumers country. Please stop spreading misinformation.
So how do you start? Send a letter? Make a call? Serious question, how you force a megacorp to listen to your problems?
Edit: there is this classical problem description at the very end of the article: “He promised me that on Monday, January 6, 2025, someone from the Sales Department would contact me.” And that’s the end. Nobody will listen to an individual. Lawyers know the back door and suddenly things start happening.
They will inform you of your rights and tell you what to do next.
Generally you need to register a grievance with the company and wait 28 days for resolution. If it is not resolved, then it depends on the form and value of grievance as to how it would proceed. In your example of BMW, for example, as it is below 5000 it would likely be a small claim (which would probably cost around 200 to file - the fee is charged by your jurisdiction so will vary - and you would claim the money back as part of the judgement if you win).
But I would recommend just contacting ECC-NET and doing what they say.
Thanks. Sounds reasonable. But I never solved anything without lawyer. After a letter from a lawyer everything is solved my way next day. There must be some magic.
No problem. A lot of people are unaware of their consumer rights, so please share it forward.
In the case of making a small claim (where it is a monetary claim under 5000), it may have more weight than a lawyers letter (as you are effectively suing them at that point), and they will then be on the hook for settling the filing fee as well, whereas you would otherwise be paying for a letter from a lawyer (although sometimes that cost could also be recovered through the small claims track). You just need to make sure you follow process (28 days notice, etc - again just contact ECC-NET to be aware of the correct process).
Of course, there are occasions where a lawyer may be needed (just as there are for domestic disputes), but being aware of your rights in advance will let you know if you have grounds without the need to pay a lawyer for consultation.
Also worth pointing out again that your EU consumer rights are identical for domestic and cross-border disputes - but for domestic disputes, you can contact your local consumer protection agency instead of ECC-NET as you may have MORE rights domestically (higher small-claims limits, for example) - although i expect ECC-NET would simply refer you in such a case
That is also not true at all. Under EU consumer law, the consumer can bring a case against the seller in the consumers country. Please stop spreading misinformation.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/1215/oj/eng (section 4)