General terms and conditions

Consumer law and general terms and conditions
When you conclude an agreement, general terms and conditions usually apply, also known as the 'small print'. These have been drawn up by the seller. General terms and conditions usually include:

• The conditions for payment;
• The conditions for the warranty;
• The organization to which the seller is (perhaps) affiliated;
• How the company handles complaints;
• Etc.

What are your rights?
According to the law, general terms and conditions quickly apply. Even if you haven't read them. The entrepreneur must ensure that customers know that there are general terms and conditions. He must therefore 'declare the conditions applicable', for example by including a text in the offer stating that general terms and conditions apply. You do not have to read the general terms and conditions. But the entrepreneur must offer the possibility to do this, before or during the conclusion of the agreement. If the entrepreneur does not offer the customer the opportunity to view the general terms and conditions (note: it is not important whether or not a customer sees these general terms and conditions), then the general terms and conditions drawn up by the entrepreneur do not apply to the concluded (purchase) agreement and therefore not legally valid.  

Even when shopping online, the general terms and conditions must be 'handed over' (for example as a PDF dossier) and the consumer must be able to save them.

What should you pay attention to?
When concluding an agreement, pay close attention to whether general terms and conditions apply and which ones they are. Read them (globally) or ask the seller for the most important provisions.

Clear and comprehensible general terms and
conditions The general terms and conditions that are declared applicable to a contract entered into with a consumer must be clear and understandable, because in case of doubt about the meaning of a clause in the general terms and conditions, the interpretation most favourable to the consumer prevails.

Voidable clause in general terms and conditions
The law contains provisions from which it is not possible to deviate in the general terms and conditions if the general terms and conditions apply to an agreement entered into with a consumer. Terms and conditions must be reasonable for a consumer according to the law. Article 6:233 sub a of the Dutch Civil Code contains the following in relation to the voidability of a clause in general terms and conditions:

"A clause in general terms and conditions is voidable if, in view of the nature and other content of the agreement, the manner in which the conditions were concluded, the mutually identifiable interests of the parties and the other circumstances of the case,  is unreasonably onerous for the other party. "

If the customer is a consumer, the law describes a number of clauses that are "unreasonably onerous" (black list) or that are suspected of being "unreasonably onerous" (gray list), the so-called black list and the gray list. Clauses in general terms and conditions that appear in the black or grey lists can be annulled by the customer being a consumer.

Black and grey list of general terms and conditions
A clause in the general terms and conditions can be annulled if the clause is unreasonably onerous. The law contains lists of "prohibited" and "suspicious" clauses, the black list and the grey list.

The black list and the grey list are mandatory when it comes to general terms and conditions that are declared applicable to an agreement that is entered into with a consumer.

The blacklist
The blacklist contains provisions that are always unreasonably onerous, these are the prohibited clauses. Article 6:236 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW) contains the black list. Among other things, the following provisions in general terms and conditions are considered unreasonably onerous:
that deprives the customer of the right to demand compliance with the promised performance;

• that the customer limits his legal powers to dissolve or suspend the agreement;
• that the assessment of whether the user of the general terms and conditions has failed to fulfil his obligations towards the customer is left to himself;
• that the customer is obliged to first bring legal proceedings before he can turn to the user for non-compliance;
• that the customer gives the user of the general terms and conditions permission in advance to transfer the obligations arising from the agreement to a third party;
• that gives the user of the general terms and conditions the authority to increase the agreed price within 3 months after the conclusion of the agreement, unless the customer is authorized to dissolve the agreement in that case;
• that the agreement entered into for a certain period, such as a subscription, is tacitly renewed after the expiry of the term for a fixed period or for an indefinite period with a notice period that is longer than 1 month.

The grey list
The grey list contains provisions that are usually unreasonably onerous, these are the suspicious clauses. However, the user of the general terms and conditions can provide proof to the contrary. In Article 6:237 of the Dutch Civil Code, the grey list, the following provisions in general terms and conditions are presumed to be unreasonably onerous.

• that limits the content of the user's obligations of the general terms and conditions in relation to what the customer may expect;
• that the user of the general terms and conditions grants the authority to change his obligations;
• that the user of the general terms and conditions can invoke force majeure more quickly than follows from the law;
• that the user of the general terms and conditions gives a long or insufficiently determined delivery period;
• that in the event of premature termination of the agreement, the customer must pay a sum of money (cancellation costs) to the user of the general terms and conditions, unless it concerns reasonable compensation for loss or loss of profit suffered by the user, see also;
• that obliges the customer to conclude an agreement with the user of the general terms and conditions or with a third party, unless it can reasonably be required of the customer;
• that the agreement entered into for a fixed period, such as a subscription, is entered into for more than 1 year;
• that the customer is bound by a notice period that is longer than 3 months.

The role of AGA Lawyers
A lawyer of AGA Lawyers offers assistance in most cases within consumer law. In the event of a consumer law conflict, an expert lawyer is at your side. Together with you, the lawyer determines the right approach and ensures the best possible solution and result. Advising, mediating, litigating, negotiating or drafting legal documents, AGA lawyers arrange it for you.

Contact AGA Lawyers
The consumer lawyers of AGA Lawyers can do a lot for you, such as guiding you throughout the entire process. Feel free to contact one of our expert lawyers for a 1st free intake interview.

TELEPHONE: 040-8444523 (1st intake interview free of charge and without obligation) (Available Mon to Fri between 09.00h and 21.00h). We can also be reached by e-mail:
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