In Leiden, fake offers with false discounts are strictly prohibited. The 'from-to' price must be authentic, and the product must have actually been available at that higher price before, for example, in local shops on Breestraat or online with Leiden retailers.
Price Indication Decree in Practice
The legal rules for price display in the Netherlands, including Leiden, set requirements for:
- Clear presentation of the selling price for consumers
- All amounts including VAT and any mandatory additional costs
- For discounts, the original price must have been genuinely applied
'From' Prices Since 2022
Since 2022, regulations for offers have been tightened, also for businesses in Leiden:
- The 'from' price is the lowest price from the last 30 days before the discount
- Artificially inflating prices to simulate discounts is not allowed
- Every discount must be based on a real foundation
Black Friday and Seasonal Sales in Leiden
Even during popular events like Black Friday or Leiden's sale periods, for example around the market on Nieuwe Rijn, price rules must be followed:
- No artificial discounts on recently increased prices
- The reference price must reflect the actual previous selling price
- The Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) maintains strict oversight and actively checks for violations
Misleading Commercial Practices
In Leiden and surrounding areas, various misleading methods are explicitly banned, such as:
- Temporarily hiking prices just before a so-called 'deal'
- Comparisons with invented or non-existent prices
- 'Recommended prices' that have never been used in practice
- Creating false urgency through fake scarcity, such as 'only 2 items left!'
Reporting Violations in Leiden
As a resident of Leiden, you can report suspicious fake offers to the ACM via the ConsuWijzer platform. If multiple reports are filed, an investigation may start, potentially leading to fines. For free legal advice on consumer rights in the region, turn to The Legal Aid Office Leiden or the municipality of Leiden for local support.
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.