Your right to compensation if something goes wrong

You may be entitled to compensation for delivery delays or faults in your service. Your right to compensation is largely governed by your contractual terms and the circumstances of your individual case.

Page summary

You can receive compensation if something went wrong with a service or delivery. It can be in the form of a price reduction or damages. A price reduction means you get money back for the time the service did not work, if it was not your fault. You can receive damages if you incurred extra costs, but you must prove it, for example with receipts, and have tried to mitigate the damage yourself. The operator can sometimes deny compensation in the agreement, but it must be reasonable.

When am I entitled to compensation as a price reduction?

Your right to a price reduction is often regulated in the terms of the agreement. For example, you may be entitled to a price reduction equivalent to the cost of the service during the time the service did not work, if the fault is not due to you. The timing of when the fault report was made can also affect the price reduction.

Therefore, see what is stated in your terms of agreement to know what applies in your case. Keep in mind that if the operator has disclaimed compensation in the terms, the terms must still be reasonable.

When am I entitled to damages?

You may be entitled to damages for additional costs you have incurred due to a fault in the service or a delivery delay. It is you as the consumer who must be able to prove the additional costs you have incurred, with, for example, receipts or other documentation. The operator also has the opportunity to disclaim liability for damages. In some agreements, it states that the operator must have been negligent for you to be entitled to damages.

If the operator has disclaimed in the agreement, the limitation must still be reasonable towards you as a consumer. The reasonableness depends on the design of the terms of the agreement and the circumstances of the individual case, and it can therefore be difficult to predict what applies.

The National Board for Consumer Disputes, for example, assessed that a contractual term that unconditionally disclaimed a company from liability for consequential damages in the event of a breach of contract was unreasonable and should be disregarded.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a fault in a mobile service if I have no coverage?
It can be. A service should correspond to what you and the operator have agreed upon. If the coverage is worse than what you were promised, then there is a fault with the service. Mobile services can be affected by various factors such as capacity in the mast, and the services are usually described in...
Is there a fault with my fixed broadband if the speed is low?
It can be. If you have a low broadband speed, it may be due to an error on the operator’s side. However, sometimes the low speed may not constitute a fault according to the agreement. Normally, it is sufficient for the speed to reach the agreed minimum speed when you have the computer connected with...
How do I complain?
Contact the operator you consider responsible. If the operator advises you to complain to a reseller but that complaint does not yield results, you can again contact the operator with whom you have the subscription. The operator is responsible for the services they bill you for, even if they are sold by resellers. If the...
What can I do if I’ve received a business subscription even though I’m a private individual?
If you believe you have received a business subscription agreement despite considering yourself a consumer, you should send an email or a letter to the operator as soon as possible and point this out. Save a copy. If you were called and the agreement was made over the phone, you can primarily argue that the...
The salesperson promised I would have coverage, but I don’t. What applies?
Even if a seller verbally promised you coverage in a specific location, such as where you live, it may be difficult for you to prove it if a dispute arises. Therefore, it is best if you get the promise in writing or have it recorded when you enter into an agreement over the phone. If...
Can I cancel the contract due to changes in the channel offering?
If you have a contract with a binding period, you should first check what is stated in your contract. Look for text that deals with changes in channel and program offerings. There are mainly three things that are important for canceling a contract: The operator must be able to show that there is a valid...
Why doesn’t my fibre work after moving into a new home, and the provider says the port is blocked?
When you order a new service, your operator can sometimes see if another service is blocking the network already at the time of the agreement. You may then be asked if the service belongs to someone else and if it should be shut down when your new service is activated; If your service is not...
How do I troubleshoot a service or hardware?
Depending on whether the fault lies in the service or the hardware, there are different ways to troubleshoot. Contact your operator for support if you have disruptions with your broadband or telephony. They can inform you if there are disruptions causing the internet to be down or if there are other known interruptions or disturbances...
How long can it take before a fault is resolved?
The operator is obliged to rectify a fault within a “reasonable time” from the day you reported the fault to the operator. Consideration should be given to your need for a functioning service. The operator is essentially obliged to immediately address the problem after you complain, and reasonable time is calculated based on what is...
What are my rights in case of faults or service interruptions?
If there is a fault in your service, you may be entitled to several different things. Also, see what rights you have according to your agreement. You may have the right to: Demand that the fault be rectified, if it does not entail unreasonable cost or inconvenience for the operator. This should be done at...

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