In Westland, fake reviews are strictly prohibited. Local businesses, such as growers and retailers in the greenhouse horticulture sector, are not allowed to post false reviews or have them posted. Purchasing positive reviews is considered an unfair trade practice and can lead to fines.
What are fake reviews?
Fake reviews in Westland are assessments that:
- Are not from genuine local customers
- Are written by the company itself or its employees
- Are purchased or exchanged for rewards
- Negative feedback comes from rival Westland competitors
Why are they prohibited in Westland?
These practices mislead Westland consumers, who often rely on reviews when buying local products like flowers or vegetables. False reviews undermine trust in the regional economy and constitute an unfair trade practice under the law.
What is allowed for Westland businesses?
- Inviting customers to share a genuine review after a purchase
- Reviews from customers who received a small discount, as long as this is disclosed transparently
- Reviews from local influencers, provided they are clearly marked as sponsored
Obligations for platforms
Since 2022, review platforms used by Westland entrepreneurs must:
- Take active steps to prevent fake reviews
- Communicate transparently about their verification mechanisms
- Clearly indicate whether a review has been verified as coming from a real buyer
Recognizing fake reviews in Westland
Watch for these warning signs in local online reviews:
- Extreme praise or criticism without substantiation
- Generic descriptions lacking specific details about the Westland product
- A sudden surge of reviews in a short period
- The reviewer has only rated this one local item
Reporting fake reviews in Westland
As a resident of Westland, you can report fake reviews to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), the platform itself, or locally at Het Juridisch Loket Westland for advice. In serious cases, you can also involve the Westland Court or Westland Municipality for support.
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.