Bulgaria Failed to Introduce EU Consumer Rights Directive On Time

Bulgaria and Poland have still not applied the EU Consumer Rights Directive taking effect on June 13, according to the Spokesperson for EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding.

Earlier on Friday, the EC announced that a total of 507 million EU citizens were expected to benefit from the EU Consumer Rights Directive as of Friday.

One of the main advantages of the new EU legislation is the introduction of a 14-day period for consumers to change their minds and pull out of any online purchase or off-premises purchase.

Under the previous regime, the period amounted to 7 days and it was also included in the Bulgarian Consumer Protection Act.

The new provisions abolish unjustified surcharges for the use of credit cards and hotlines.

The new rules also introduce stronger refund rights applying to a period of 14 days of the consumer's cancellation of a purchase.

Reding, as cited in the EC media statement, vowed that the EC would conduct rigorous inspections to establish whether EU countries observed the rules they had adopted.