Terms and Conditions
General Terms and Conditions of Thuiswinkel.org
These General Terms and Conditions of Thuiswinkel.org were drawn up in consultation with the
Consumers’ Association within the framework of the Self-Regulation Coordination Group (CZ) of the
Social and Economic Council and will become operable as of 1st June 2014.
Index:
Article 1 - Definitions
Article 2 - Identity of the trader
Article 3 - Applicability
Article 4 - The offer
Article 5 - The contract
Article 6 - Right of withdrawal
Article 7 - Customers’ obligations in case of withdrawal
Article 8 - Customers who exercise their right of withdrawal and the costs involved
Article 9 - Traders’ obligations in case of withdrawal
Article 10 - Precluding the right of withdrawal
Article 11 - The price
Article 12 - Contract fulfilment and extra guarantee
Article 13 - Delivery and implementation
Article 14 - Extended duration transactions: duration, termination and prolongation
Article 15 - Payment
Article 16 - Complaints procedure
Article 17 - Disputes
Article 18 - Branch guarantee
Article 19 - Additional or different stipulations
Article 20 - Amendment to the general terms and conditions of Thuiswinkel.org
Article 1 - Definitions
The following definitions apply in these terms and conditions:
- Supplementary agreement: an agreement in which a consumer obtains products, digital content
and/or services via a distance contract, and a trader or a third party delivers these products, digital
content and/or services in accordance with an agreement between that third party and the trader;
- Withdrawal period: the period within which a consumer can make use of his right of withdrawal;
- Consumer: a natural person whose actions are not carried out for objectives relating to the course
of a trade, a profession or a business;
- Day: calendar day;
- Digital content: data that are produced and supplied in digital form;
- Extended duration transaction: a distance contract relating to a series of products and/or
services, whereby the obligation to supply and/or purchase is spread over a period of time;
- Durable medium: every means - including emails - that enables a consumer or trader to store
information that is addressed to him in person in a way that facilitates its future use or consultation
during a period that is in keeping with the objective for which the information is intended, and
which facilitates the unaltered reproduction of the stored information;
- Right of withdrawal: the possibility for a consumer to waive a distance contract within the
withdrawal period;
- Trader: a natural or legal person who is a member of Thuiswinkel.org and who offers products,
(access to) digital content and/or services to consumers from a distance;
- Distance contract: a contract concluded between a trader and a consumer within the framework
of system organized for the distance sale of products, digital content and/or services, whereby
sole or partly use is made of one or more techniques for distance communication up to and
including the moment that the contract is concluded;
- Model form for right of withdrawal: the European model form for right of withdrawal that is
included in Appendix I of these terms and conditions;
- Technique for distance communication: means that can be used for communication regarding
the offer made by the trader and concluding a contract, without the necessity of the consumer and
trader being in the same place at the same time.
Article 2 - Identity of the trader
Name trader: Babymax.nl a trademark of Baby Max Veenendaal B.V.
Registered address: Pollaan 48, 7202 BX, Zutphen The Netherlands
Telephone number: 0085-0739802
Opening hours: Teusdays till Saterdays from 10 till 17:00.
E-mail address: info@babymax.nl
Chamber of Commerce number: 09187672
VAT identification number: 8199.52.928.B
Article 3 - Applicability
- These general terms and conditions apply to every offer made by a trader and to every distance
contract that has been realized between an trader and a consumer.
- Prior to the conclusion of a distance contract, the text of these general terms and conditions will be
made available to the consumer. If this is not reasonably possible, the trader will indicate, before
the distance contract is concluded, in what way the general terms and conditions are available for
inspection at the trader’s premises and that they will be sent free of charge to the consumer, as
quickly as possible, at the consumer’s request.
- If the distance contract is concluded electronically, then, contrary to the previous paragraph, and
before the distance contract is concluded, the consumer will be provided with the text of these
general terms and conditions electronically, in such a way that the consumer can easily store
them on a durable data carrier. If this is not reasonably possible, then before concluding the
distance contract, the trader will indicate where the general terms and conditions can be inspected
electronically and that at his request they will be sent to the consumer free of charge, either
electronically or in some other way.
- In cases where specific product or service-related terms and conditions apply in addition to
these general terms and conditions, the second and third paragraphs apply by analogy and the
consumer can always invoke the applicable condition that is most favorable to him in the event of
incompatible general terms and conditions.
Article 4 - The offer
- If an offer is subject to a limited period of validity or is made subject to conditions, this will be
explicitly mentioned in the offer.
- The offer contains a complete and accurate description of the products, digital content and/or
services being offered. The description is sufficiently detailed to enable the consumer to make
a proper assessment of the offer. If the trader makes use of illustrations, these will be a true
representation of the products and/or services being offered. The trader is not bound by obvious
errors or mistakes in the offer.
- Every offer contains information that makes it clear to the consumer what rights and obligations
are related to the acceptance of the offer.
Article 5 - The contract
- The contract will be concluded, subject to that which is stipulated in paragraph 4, at the moment at
which the consumer accepts the offer and the conditions thereby stipulated have been fulfilled.
- If the consumer has accepted the offer electronically, the trader will immediately confirm receipt
of acceptance of the offer electronically. The consumer can dissolve the contract as long as this
acceptance has not been confirmed by the trader.
- If the contract is concluded electronically, the trader will take suitable technical and organizational
measures to secure the electronic transfer of data and he will ensure a safe web environment. If
the consumer is able to pay electronically, the trader will take suitable security measures.
- The trader may obtain information – within statutory frameworks – about the consumer’s ability
to fulfill his payment obligations, as well as about facts and factors that are important for the
responsible conclusion of the distance contract. If that research gives the trader proper grounds
for declining to conclude the contract, then he has a right, supported by reasons, to reject an order
or application or to bind its implementation to special conditions.
- The trader will send to a consumer, at the latest when delivering a product, service or digital
content, the following information, in writing, or in such a way that the consumer can store it on an
accessible durable medium:
- the office address of the trader’s business location where the consumer can lodge complaints;
- the conditions under which the consumer can make use of the right of withdrawal and the
method for doing so, or a clear statement relating to preclusion from the right of withdrawal;
- information on guarantees and existing after-sales service;
- the price, including all taxes on the product, service or digital content; the costs of delivery
insofar as applicable, and the method of payment, delivery or implementing the distance
contract;
- the requirements for terminating the contract, if the duration of the contract exceeds one year
or if it is indefinite;
- if the consumer has a right of withdrawal, the model form for right of withdrawal.
- In case of an extended duration contract, the stipulation in the previous paragraph applies only to
the first delivery.
Article 6 - Right of withdrawal
Upon delivery of products
- When purchasing products, a consumer has the right to dissolve a contract, without giving
reasons, during a period of at least 14 days. The trader is allowed to ask a consumer for the
reason of this dissolution, but the consumer is under no obligation to state his/her reason(s).
- The period stipulated in para. 1 commences on the day after the product was received by the
consumer, or a third party designated by the consumer, who is not the transporting party, or:
- if the consumer has ordered several products: the day on which the consumer, or a third party
designated by the consumer, received the last product. The trader may refuse a single order
for several products with different delivery dates, provided he clearly informed the consumer of
this prior to the ordering process.
- if the delivery of a product involves different deliveries or parts: the day on which the
consumer, or a third party designated by the consumer, received the last delivery or the last
part;
- with contracts for the regular delivery of products during a given period: the day on which the
consumer, or a third party designated by the consumer, received the last product.
Upon delivery of services and digital content that is not supplied on a material medium:
- A consumer has the right to dissolve a contract, without giving reasons, for the supply of digital
content that is not supplied on a material medium during a period of at least fourteen days. The
trader is allowed to ask a consumer for the reason of this dissolution, but the consumer is under
no obligation to state his/her reason(s).
- The period stipulated in para. 3 commences on the day after the contract was concluded.
Extended withdrawal period for products, services and digital content that is not supplied on a material
medium in the event a consumer was not informed about the right of withdrawal:
- If the trader did not provide the consumer with the statutorily obligatory information about the right
of withdrawal or if the model form was not provided, the withdrawal period ends twelve months
after the end of the originally stipulated withdrawal period based on the previous paragraphs of
this article.
- If the trader provided the consumer with the information referred to in the previous paragraph
within twelve months of the commencing date of the original withdrawal period, the withdrawal
period shall end 14 days after the day on which the consumer received the information.
Article 7 - Consumers’ obligations during the withdrawal period
- During the withdrawal period, the consumer shall treat the product and its packaging with care.
He shall only unpack or use the product in as far as necessary in order to assess the nature,
characteristics and efficacy of the product. The point of departure here is that the consumer may
only handle and inspect the product in the same way that he would be allowed in a shop.
- The consumer is only liable for the product’s devaluation that is a consequence of his handling the
product other than as permitted in para. 1.
- The consumer is not liable for the product’s devaluation if the trader did not provide him with
all the statutorily obligatory information about the right of withdrawal before the contract was
concluded.
Article 8 - Consumers who exercise their right of withdrawal and the costs involved
- A consumer who wants to exercise his right of withdrawal shall report this to the trader, within
the withdrawal period, by means of the model form for right of withdrawal or in some other
unequivocal way.
- As quickly as possible, but no later than 14 days after the day of reporting as referred to in para.
1, the consumer shall return the product, or hand it over to (a representative of) the trader. This
is not necessary if the trader has offered to collect the product himself. The consumer will in any
case have complied with the time for returning goods if he sends the product back before the
withdrawal period has lapsed.
- The consumer returns the product with all relevant accessories, if reasonably possible in the
original state and packaging, and in accordance with the reasonable and clear instructions
provided by the trader.
- The risk and the burden of proof for exercising the right of withdrawal correctly and in time rest
upon the consumer.
- The consumer bears the direct costs of returning the product. If the trader has not declared that
the consumer shall bear these costs or if the trader indicates a willingness to bear these costs
himself, then the consumer shall not be liable to bear the costs of returning goods.
- If the consumer exercises his right of withdrawal, after first explicitly having asked that the service
provided or the delivery of gas, water or electricity not prepared for sale shall be implemented
in a limited volume or a given quantity during the period of withdrawal, the consumer shall owe
the trader a sum of money that is equivalent to that proportion of the contract that the trader has
fulfilled at the moment of withdrawal, in comparison with fulfilling the contract entirely.
- The consumer shall bear no costs for implementing services or the supply of water, gas or
electricity not prepared for sale – in a limited volume or quantity – or for delivering city central
heating, if:
- the trader did not provide the consumer with the statutorily obligatory information about the
right of withdrawal, the costs payable in the event of withdrawal or the model form for right of
withdrawal, or:
- the consumer did not explicitly ask about the commencement of implementing the service or
the delivery of gas, water, electricity or city central heating during the period of withdrawal.
- The consumer shall bear no costs for the entire or partial supply of digital content that is not
supplied on a material medium, if:
- prior to delivery, he did not explicitly agree to commencing fulfilment of the contract before the
end of the period of withdrawal;
- he did not acknowledge having lost his right of withdrawal upon granting his permission; or
- the trader neglected to confirm this statement made by the consumer.
- If a consumer exercises his right of withdrawal, all supplementary agreements are legally
dissolved.
Article 9 - Traders’ obligations in a case of withdrawal
- If the trader makes it possible for a consumer to declare his withdrawal via electronic means, then
after receiving such a declaration, he sends immediate confirmation of receipt.
- The trader reimburses the consumer immediately with all payments, including any delivery costs
the trader charged for the returned product, though at the latest within 14 days after the day on
which the consumer reported the withdrawal. Except in cases in which the trader has offered to
retrieve the product himself, he can postpone refunding until he has received the product or until
the consumer proves he has returned the product, depending on which occurs earlier.
- For any reimbursement, the trader will use the same payment method that was initially used by
the consumer, unless the consumer agrees to another method. Reimbursement is free of charge
for the consumer.
- If the consumer chose an expensive method of delivery in preference to the cheapest standard
delivery, the trader does not have to refund the additional costs of the more expensive method.
Article 10 - Precluding the right of withdrawal
The trader can preclude the right of withdrawal for the following products and services, but only if
the trader stated this clearly when making the offer, or at least in good time prior to conclusion of the
contract:
- Products or services whose prices are subject to fluctuations on the financial market over which
the trader has no influence and which can occur within the period of withdrawal;
- Contracts concluded during a public auction. A public auction is defined as a sales method
whereby a trader offers products, digital content and/or services at an auction, under the directions
of an auctioneer, and whereby the successful purchaser is obliged to purchase the products,
digital content and/or services;
- Service contracts, after full completion of the service, but only if:
- implementation started with the explicit prior agreement of the consumer; and
- the consumer declared having lost his right or withdrawal as soon as the trader had completed
the contract in full;
- Service contracts providing access to accommodation, if the contract already stipulates a certain
date or period of implementation and other than for the purpose of accommodation, the transport
of goods, car rental services and catering;
- Contracts relating to leisure activities, if the contract already stipulates a certain date or period of
implementation;
- Products manufactured according to the consumer’s specifications, which were not prefabricated
and were made based on a consumer’s specific choice or decision, or which are clearly intended
for a specific person;
- Products subject to rapid decay or with a limited shelf-life;
- Sealed products that, for reasons relating to the protection of health or hygiene, are unsuited to
returning and whose seal was broken subsequent to delivery;
- Products that, due to their nature, have been irretrievably mixed with other products;
- Alcoholic drinks whose price was agreed when concluding the contract, but the delivery of which
can only take place after 30 days, and the actual value of which depends on market fluctuations
over which the trader has no influence;
- Sealed audio/video-recordings and computer apparatus whose seal was broken after delivery;
- The delivery of digital content other than on a material medium, but only if:
- the delivery commenced with the consumer’s explicit prior agreement, and
- the consumer declared that this implied his having lost his right of withdrawal.
Article 11 - The price
- During the period of validity indicated in the offer, the prices of the products and/or services being
offered will not be increased, except for price changes in VAT-tariffs.
- Contrary to the previous paragraph, the trader may offer products or services at variable prices, in
cases where these prices are subject to fluctuations in the financial market over which the trader
has no influence. The offer must refer to this link with fluctuations and the fact that any prices
mentioned are recommended prices.
- Price increases within 3 months after the contract was concluded are only permitted if they are the
result of statutory regulations or stipulations.
- Price increases more than 3 months after the contract was concluded are only permitted if the
trader stipulated as much and:
- they are the result of statutory regulations or stipulations; or
- the consumer is authorized to terminate the contract on the day on which the price increase
takes effect.
- Prices stated in offers of products or services include VAT.
Article 12 - Contract fulfilment and extra guarantee
- The trader guarantees that the products and/or services fulfill the contract, the specifications
stated in the offer, the reasonable requirements of reliability and/or serviceability and the statutory
stipulations and/or government regulations that existed on the date that the contract was
concluded. If agreed the trader also guarantees that the product is suited for other than normal
designation.
- An extra guarantee arrangement offered by the trader, manufacturer or importer can never affect
the statutory rights and claims that a consumer can enforce against the trader on the grounds of
the contract if the trader failed to fulfil his part in the contract.
- An extra guarantee is defined as every commitment of a trader, his supplier, importer or
manufacturer that grants a consumer rights or claims, in excess of those provided by law, for the
event that he fails to fulfil his part in the contract.
Article 13 - Supply and implementation
- The trader will take the greatest possible care when receiving and implementing orders for
products and when assessing applications for the provision of services.
- The place of delivery is deemed to be the address that the consumer makes known to the
company.
- Taking into consideration that which is stated in article 4 of these general terms and conditions,
the company will implement accepted orders with efficient expedition, though at the latest within
30 days, unless a different period of delivery has been agreed. If delivery suffers a delay, or if the
delivery cannot be implemented, or only partially, the consumer will be informed about this at the
latest 30 days after the order was placed. In this case, the consumer has a right to dissolve the
contract free of charge and a right to possible damages.
- Following dissolution in accordance with the previous paragraph, the trader refunds the consumer
immediately the sum he had paid.
- The risk of damage and/or loss of products rests upon the trader up to the moment of delivery to
the consumer or a representative previous designated by the consumer and announced to the
trader, unless this has explicitly been agreed otherwise.
Article 14 - Extended duration transactions: duration, termination and prolongation
Termination
- The consumer has a right at all times to terminate an open-ended contract that was concluded for
the regular supply of products (including electricity) or services, subject to the agreed termination
rules and a period of notice that does not exceed one month.
- The consumer has a right at all times to terminate a fixed-term contract that was concluded for the
regular supply of products (including electricity) or services at the end of the fixed-term, subject to
the agreed termination rules and a period of notice that does not exceed one month.
- With respect to contracts as described in the first two paragraphs, the consumer can:
- terminate them at all times and not be limited to termination at a specific time or during a
specific period;
- terminate them in the same way as that in which they were concluded;
- always terminate them subject to the same period of notice as that stipulated for the trader.
Prolongation
- A fixed-term contract that was concluded for the regular supply of products (including electricity) or
services may not be automatically prolonged or renewed for a fixed period of time.
- In departure from that which is stated in the previous paragraph, a fixed-term contract that has
been concluded for the regular supply of daily or weekly newspapers or magazines may be
automatically prolonged for a fixed term that does not exceed three months, if the consumer is at
liberty to terminate this prolonged contract towards the end of the prolongation, with a period of
notice that does not exceed one month.
- A fixed-term contract that has been concluded for the regular supply of products or services may
only be automatically prolonged for an indefinite period of time if the consumer has at all times
the right to terminate, with a period of notice that does not exceed one month and, in the case of
a contract to supply daily or weekly newspapers or magazines regularly but less than once per
month, a period that does not exceed three months.
- A fixed term contract for the regular supply, by way of introduction, of daily or weekly newspapers
and magazines (trial subscriptions or introductory subscriptions) will not be automatically
prolonged and will automatically terminate at the end of the trial period or introductory period.
Duration
- If the fixed-term of a contract exceeds one year, then after one year the consumer has at all
times a right to terminate, with a period of notice that does not exceed one month, unless
reasonableness and fairness dictate that premature termination of the contract would be
unacceptable.
Article 15 - Payment
- As far as no other date is stipulated in the contract or supplementary conditions, sums payable by
the consumer should be paid within 14 days after commencement of the withdrawal period, or in
the absence of a withdrawal period within 14 days after the conclusion of the contract. In the case
of a contract to provide a service, this 14-day period starts on the day after the consumer received
confirmation of the contract.
- When selling products to consumers, the general terms and conditions may never stipulate
an advance payment in excess of 50%. Where advance payment is stipulated, the consumer
cannot invoke any rights whatsoever in relation to the implementation of the order or service(s) in
question before the stipulated advance payment has been made.
- The consumer is obliged to report immediately to the trader any inaccuracies in payment data
provided or stated.
- If a consumer fails to fulfil his payment obligation(s) in good time, after the trader has informed the
consumer about the late payment, the consumer is allowed 14 days in which to fulfil the obligation
to pay; if payment is not made within this 14-day period, statutory interest will be payable over the
sum owed and the trader has the right to charge reasonable extrajudicial costs of collection he has
incurred. These costs of collection amount to, at the most: 15% of unpaid sums up to €2,500; 10%
over the next €2,500; and 5% over the next €5,000, with a minimum of €40. The trader can make
departures from these sums and percentages that are favorable to the consumer.
Article 16 - Complaints procedure
- The trader provides for a complaints procedure, that has been given sufficient publicity, and will
deal with a complaint in accordance with this complaints procedure.
- A consumer who has discovered shortcomings in the implementation of a contract must submit
any complaints to the trader without delay, in full and with clear descriptions.
- A reply to complaints submitted to the trader will be provided within a period of 14 days, calculated
from the date of receipt. If it is anticipated that a complaint will require a longer processing time,
then the trader will reply within 14 days, confirming receipt and indicating when the consumer can
expect a more elaborate reply.
- A complaint about a product, a service or the trader’s service can also be submitted via a
complaints form on the consumer’s page of the website of Thuiswinkel.org, www.thuiswinkel.org
The complaint is then sent both to the trader concerned and Thuiswinkel.org.
- A complaint that cannot be solved in joint consultation within a reasonable period of time, or within
3 months after it was submitted, becomes a dispute that is subject to the disputes settlement
scheme.
Article 17 - Disputes
- Contracts entered into between a trader and a consumer and which are subject to these general
terms and conditions are subject only to Dutch law.
- Disputes between a consumer and an trader over the conclusion or exercising of contracts relating
to products and services to be supplied by this trader can be put before the Thuiswinkel Disputes
Committee, P.O. Box 90600, 2509 LP in The Hague (www.sgc.nl), by either the consumer or the
trader, with due observance of that which is stipulated below.
- The Disputes Committee will only deal with a dispute if the consumer first put his complaint,
without delay, to the trader.
- The dispute should be submitted to the Disputes Committee, in writing, at the latest by three
months after the dispute arose.
- If a consumer wants to put a dispute before the Disputes Committee, the trader is bound by that
choice. If it is at the wishes of the trader, then the consumer will indicate, in response to a written
request made by the trader, whether he is in contract, or prefers the dispute to be dealt with by the
competent law-court. If the consumer does not indicate his choice to the trader within a period of
five weeks, then the trader has a right to put the dispute before the competent law-court.
- Rulings of the Disputes Committee are subject to the conditions as stipulated in the regulations of
the Disputes Committee. Decisions of the Disputes Committee take the form of binding advice.
- The Disputes Committee will not deal with a dispute – or will terminate their intervention – if the
trader has been granted a suspension of payments, gone bankrupt or has actually terminated
business activities before the committee dealt with the dispute during a session and rendered a
final ruling.
- If, alongside the Thuiswinkel Disputes Committee, there is another competent disputes committee
that is recognized or one that is affiliated with the Disputes Committee Foundation for Consumer
Affairs (SGC) or the Complaints Institute Financial Services (Kifid), the Thuiswinkel Disputes
Committee shall preferably have jurisdiction for disputes that relate principally to the sales method
or to providing services long-distance. For all other disputes, this this will be the other disputes
committee that is recognized by the SGC or affiliated with the Kifid.
Article 18 - Branch guarantee
- Thuiswinkel.org guarantees the fulfilment of obligations of her members in relation to binding
advices imposed on them by the Thuiswinkel Disputes Committee, unless the member decides
to put the binding advice before a law-court for verification within two months after de date
of that advice. In case of law-court verification the suspension of the guarantee will end and
the guarantee will come into effect again upon the court ruling becoming final and conclusive,
whereby the court has declared that the binding advice has binding effect. Up to a maximum sum
of €10,000 per binding advice Thuiswinkel.org will pay this sum to the consumer. In case of sums
higher than €10,000 per binding advice, the sum of €10,000 will be paid. In as far as the sum is
higher than €10,000, Thuiswinkel.org has the obligation to take reasonable adequate efforts to
pursue the member to fulfil the binding advice.
- Application of this guarantee requires the consumer to submit a written appeal to Thuiswinkel.org
and to transfer his claim on the trader to Thuiswinkel.org. In as far as the claim on the trader
exceeds the sum of €10,000, the consumer will be offered the possibility to transfer his claim on
the trader above the sum of €10,000 to Thuiswinkel.org, where after this organization will pursue
payment of the claim in court on her own title and costs.
Article 19 - Additional or different stipulations
Additional stipulations or stipulations that differ from these general terms and conditions, may not be
detrimental to the consumer and should be recorded in writing, or in such a way that consumers can
store them in a readily accessible manner on a durable medium.
Article 20 - Amendment to the general terms and conditions of Thuiswinkel.org
- Thuiswinkel.org will only amend these general terms and conditions after consultation with the
Consumers’ Association.
- Amendments to these terms and conditions will only come into effect after they have been
published in the appropriate way, on the understanding that where amendments apply during the
validity of an offer, the stipulation that is most favorable to the consumer will prevail.
Thuiswinkel.org
P.O. Box 7001, 6710 CB EDE, the Netherlands.
Rights can only be derived on the basis of the Dutch version of these general terms and conditions.