In Utrecht, you often shop online at local or national webshops, but what if a product is offered at a ridiculously low price? Is the webshop bound to that price? The answer isn't black and white, and as a Utrecht resident, you can handle this smartly.
Offer or Just an Invitation?
According to Dutch law, a product page in a webshop generally does not constitute a final offer, but an invitation to make an offer yourself. Only after explicit confirmation from the webshop does a binding purchase agreement arise.
When Is the Webshop Obligated?
The webshop is bound to the price if:
- Your order has been officially confirmed
- The item has already been shipped to your address in Utrecht
- Money has already been deducted from your account
What About an Obvious Error?
If it's an evident mistake, such as a typo, the webshop may cancel the transaction. For example, a high-end bike priced at €1,499 that's accidentally listed for €14.99 – the Utrecht Court would likely view this as an obvious error.
Tricky Situations in Practice
It gets more complicated with:
- Large discounts that seem plausible, such as during the Utrecht winter sale
- Special promotions from local webshops in the Domstad
- Ambiguous pricing that doesn't immediately indicate an error
Rights After Payment
If the webshop cancels the order after you've already paid from Utrecht, the seller must:
- Immediately refund the money to your account
- Fully compensate for any additional expenses, such as shipping costs
In such cases, you can seek free advice about your consumer rights at the Legal Advice Office in Utrecht.
No Claim for Missed Savings
Unfortunately, as a resident of the Municipality of Utrecht, you cannot claim compensation for the 'lost' discount. The webshop has the right to correct the pricing error, as long as it does so reasonably.
For personal help with pricing disputes: contact the Legal Advice Office in Utrecht or the Utrecht Court.
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat is mijn retourrecht?
Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.
Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?
Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.
Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?
Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.
Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?
Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.
Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?
Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.