As a resident of Zoetermeer, you can benefit from collective procedures organized by interest groups in cases of damage affecting many consumers, such as the woekerpolis affair or Dieselgate. Since 2020, it has also been possible to collectively claim compensation, which may be relevant for local matters at the Zoetermeer District Court.
What do collective actions entail for Zoetermeer?
A collective action is a procedure in which an organization conducts a lawsuit on behalf of a group of affected citizens, including those from Zoetermeer. Benefits for you as a local resident:
- Cost savings per individual
- Stronger position against large corporations
- Faster resolution instead of numerous individual claims at the Zoetermeer District Court
WAMCA scheme since 2020
With the Act on the Settlement of Mass Damage in Collective Action (WAMCA), you have been able to not only seek a court ruling but also jointly claim compensation since 2020. This provides more options for Zoetermeer residents affected by mass damage.
Which organizations are allowed to act?
Only interest organizations that meet strict criteria are permitted to litigate:
- A foundation or association with full legal capacity
- Representation of similar interests, such as those of consumers in Zoetermeer
- Adequate representation of the group
- Sufficient financial and expertise resources
For free advice on this, you can contact the Zoetermeer Legal Aid Office.
Some well-known cases
- The woekerpolis affair, impacting many Dutch households including in Zoetermeer
- Dieselgate involving fraudulent software in vehicles
- Data breaches and privacy violations by technology companies
- Equity lease products (stock lease)
Opt-out versus opt-in in practice?
In a WAMCA case, the opt-out system applies: as a Zoetermeer resident, you are automatically included in the ruling unless you specifically opt out at the Zoetermeer District Court. In other collective actions, opt-in is often required, meaning you must register. The Municipality of Zoetermeer can refer you to relevant support services.
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat is mijn retourrecht?
Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.
Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?
Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.
Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?
Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.
Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?
Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.
Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?
Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.