Tool and equipment rental with poor consumer protection
The Consumer Council examined the terms of contracts on the rental market of tools, sports equipment, clothing, trailers and cars. 23 out of 30 actors get a fail and only one gets a full score. A consumer-hostile market leads the Consumer Council to demand a new law that statutorily protects consumers from unreasonable contract terms with many rental operators.
Tool and equipment rental with poor consumer protection
Hertz car rental is the only rental operator with the highest score. Big players like meK Maxbo, Circle K, Bauhaus, Fjong and many others are listed at the bottom of the list because there are no basic consumer rights in the terms of the contract.
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Problematic contracts
The Consumer Council believes that some contracts are so problematic that so much risk is transferred to the consumer that the contracts themselves may be illegal.
– Our review shows that the vast majority of deals currently offered by rental industry players are very hostile to consumers. Some of the findings in the survey are so drastic that we dare to say that several contracts may be illegal. This serious matter, says the director of the Norwegian Consumer Council, Inger Lise Blyverket.
Currently, it is being considered to file a complaint against the worst contracts with the Norwegian Office Consumer Protection to verify legal legitimacy.
I want a new law
Blyverket believes it's time to separate The Consumer Services Act supplemented the current Shopping Act consumer:
— The results of our study emphasize this the need for much better consumer protection. We believe that the Minister for Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide and the Minister for Consumer Protection Kjersti Toppe should take the initiative to create a separate act on consumer services so that we do not have to navigate a market without consumer protection and be "punished" for introducing sustainable choices - says Blyverket.
Blyverket receives support from the Storting Family and Culture Committee. IN recommendation 435 we read:
[...] caring for ensuring consumer protection also on the rental market. Furthermore, the committee is keen to contribute to a more circular economy and believes that, in this regard, it will be important to strengthen consumer protection in the rental market. The committee therefore believes there is reason to look at how consumer rights can be strengthened in consumer shopping, which is currently unregulated.
Paradoxical differences in fundamental rights
For example, renting a car, tools, clothes or sports equipment instead of purchasing a new one can protect both the environment and your wallet. But for more people to rent their stuff rather than own it, very basic consumer rights need to be introduced.
– It is a contradiction that we are world leaders in consumer protection and at the same time we lack basic rights in the rental market. If we are to succeed in the green shift, we must move from a linear economy to a circular economy. Better consumer protection in the rental market is absolutely necessary to ensure more people choose to rent rather than own, says Blyverket.
Completely at the mercy of the landlord's contract
When you rent an item, you can experience delivery delays or that the borrowed item does not meet expectations. As fundamental rights, both types of breach of contract should give rise to a price reduction, refund or termination of the lease agreement in significant cases.
Consumer Director Inger Lise Blyverket warns:
— You run the risk of being trapped where you won't be have opportunities cancellation of the contract, price reduction or compensation if the rented product does not meet expectations. You are completely at the mercy of the landlord's contract. It's anti-consumer and we can't have it like that, says Blyverket.
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Source: Norwegian Council Consumers, Photo: Helen Mehammer/Consumer Council, in the photo: Inger Lise Blyverket/Director of the Norwegian Consumer Council
