Black Friday Spain: A stunning fine of 350,000 euros — 7 companies are caught on hot!

Forbidden discounts: how Spanish companies deceived buyers during Black Friday Spain

Imagine: you are looking forward to Black Friday SpainTo grab the very desired thing at an incredible discount. Open the page of the online store, and there-shock! The price before the discount magically increased in a few days, then to “decrease” to the usual level issued for a grandiose action. Familiar? Unfortunately, for many Spanish consumers, this has become a bitter reality.

At the end of November, when all of Spain plunged into consumer excitement Black Friday Spainseven enterprising, but unscrupulous Internet companies decided to play by the rules. The Ministry of Consumer Protection of Rights is not asleep: these companies received fines totaling up to 350 thousand euros! And you know why? For holding openly false sales. This is not just a mistake, it is deliberate misleading millions of buyers.

The essence of the scam is ridiculous, but no less cynical: a few days before the beginning Black Friday Spain Prices for goods took off to heaven. And then, when the treasured day X came, they “decreased” to their original level, creating the illusion of giant discounts. This is pure water deception, violating the holy of holies — Consumer trust.

«Artificial overstation of prices, followed by their decrease to the usual level and the declaration of fictitious discounts is a direct violation of the law and misleads consumers.»

According to Article 20 of the Spanish Law on Retail Regulation, the basic price for any discount should be the minimum value of the goods over the past month. No loopholes, no excuses! Violation of this rule is Direct deceptionwho deprives the buyer of real benefits and creates a false idea of ​​a discount. But it is precisely for discounts that we are chasing, right?

How Spain fights fraud: tools and results

The Spanish government qualified these violations as serious, applying not only impressive fines to companies, but also a ban on holding such “shares” in the future. This is not a joke — when it comes to protecting consumer rights, the Spanish authorities act decisively. Three of the seven of the final firms quickly pleaded guilty and paid fines, receiving a well -deserved discount for early repayment. The remaining four companies, apparently, decided to experience fate, refusing to recognize violations, which led to an increase in already considerable penalties.

But how were these frauds identified? In 2023, the Ministry of Protection of Consumer Rights was armed with the latest technology! A special tool developed by the European Commission was used — Price Reduction Tool. This system is a real «X-ray» for online trade. It allows you to track in real time how the declared discounts comply with the legislation, especially during periods of mass sales, such as Black Friday Spain.

Monitoring is not limited only Black Friday Spain. It covers all seasons of discounts, including summer sales that have just started. And this is only the beginning! The investigation of possible similar violations in online sales is currently underway Black Friday Spain 2024. This means that the new penalties will not be long in coming, and unscrupulous sellers should think about their strategy.

Earlier, the Minister of Protection of Consumer Rights openly warned about the intention to apply tough measures to platforms that use such fraudulent schemes. He emphasized that the artificial overstation of prices, followed by their decrease to the usual level and the declaration of fictitious discounts is a direct violation of the law and the introduction of consumers into misleading. According to him, some companies have already changed their work methods to avoid such sanctions. These are not just empty threats, but real actions aimed at creating a transparent and honest market.

What does this mean for you?

This story is not just news, it is an alarm and a lesson for each of us. On the eve of new sales, be it the next Black Friday Spain Or summer discounts, be vigilant! Always check the history of prices for the goods you are interested in. Use extensions for browsers that show the dynamics of prices. Do not give in to aggressive marketing tricks. Your vigilance is the best protection against unscrupulous sellers.

This is a vivid example of how the Spanish government actively protects consumer rights. Do not be afraid to report suspicious “discounts”. The more active we will be, the less chance the scammers will remain. Let’s create an honest market together!

Do you think these measures are enough to combat the fraud in the online trade? Share your opinion in the comments!

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FAQ for fines for false discounts in Spain

What are “false sales” in context Black Friday Spain?

This is a practice when companies artificially increase the prices of goods shortly before the sale, and then reduce them to the previous level, imposing this as a significant discount. In fact, there is no real discount.

What companies were fined in Spain?

Seven Internet companies received fines. Their names are not disclosed in order to maintain confidentiality at the investigation stage.

How much were fines imposed on?

The total amount of fines reached 350,000 euros. The exact amount for each company depends on the severity of the violation and whether the company pleaded guilty.

What law did these companies violate?

Article 20 of the Spanish Law on Retail Trade Regulation is violated, which requires to indicate the minimum cost of goods over the past month as the basic price for a discount.

How does the Ministry of Consumer Rights reveal such violations?

To identify violations, a special tool of the European Commission is used — Price Reduction Tool, which allows you to track the compliance of the declared discounts by the legislation in real time.

Will such checks be carried out in the future?

Yes, monitoring is carried out not only during Black Friday Spainbut also in other seasons of discounts, for example, in the summer. An investigation of violations for 2024 is being conducted.

What should consumers do so as not to become a victim of false discounts?

It is recommended to check the history of prices for goods before buying, use special online tools to track the dynamics of prices and be attentive to the wording of discounts.

Can companies caught in violation hold shares in the future?

In case of serious violations, sanctions may be applied to companies, including a ban on such shares in the future.

Where can I get additional information or report a violation?

Information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Protection of Consumer Rights of Spain. You can also contact local consumer protection organizations.