Ministry of Development: Imposed a fine of 250 thousand euros on Dimoco Greece for unfair practices

Η General Directorate of Consumer Protection imposed on the company  DIMOCO GREECE MONOPROSSOPI IKE, administrative fine 250.000,00 euro.

ΜAfter an ex-officio investigation of the General Directorate of Consumer Protection of the General Secretariat of Commerce and Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Development and Investment last year, it emerged that the company DIMOCO GREECE MONOPROSSOPI IKE acting as a provider of multimedia information services (including SMS / MMS), enrolled consumers in a subscription service without their consent during the critical period, resulting in excessive charges on their mobile phone bills.

In particular, the General Directorate of Consumer Protection imposed on the company  DIMOCO GREECE MONKEY PERSON IKE, administrative fine of 250.000,00 euros because as a provider of multimedia information services it has adopted misleading commercial practices consisting of:

• registration of consumers in multimedia subscription services through pre-filled consent icons, which were activated by their participation in research which were displayed on high-traffic websites (Facebook and other social media), on the subject of Greek habits and with tempting gift certificates for high-value purchases in well-known supermarket chains, resulting in their excessive charging,
• activation of multimedia information services at the invitation of consumers-subscribers of mobile telephony connections to participate in competitions with the prize of granting free high value checks to well-known supermarket chains, the participation of which resulted in excessive charges on their mobile telephony bills.

The company did not inform in a clear and comprehensible manner and before the consumers proceeded to register, that the participation of consumers - internet users and mobile subscribers in the remotely screened survey or competition implies an obligation to pay, while creating a false impression on consumers that take this action will win a particularly attractive prize when in fact it did not exist.

It is finally noted that pre-filled boxes are expressly prohibited (pre-ticked boxes) in all the websites of the market of products and services in the European Union with the fundamental purpose of protecting the consumers from the "payment traps" on the internet.

Press release - Source