The clients of websites such as ale-gratka.pl, bez-posrednikow.pl, ofertynet.com.pl, ale-gratka.com, alegratka.eu, top-gratka.com can regain their money. The UOKiK President issued a decision concerning the provider of those website services - Tomasz Braniewski. UOKiK established that his clients were not reliably informed i.a. about the service price. All the clients will thus receive an e-mail informing them about the terms and conditions of returning the money.

The President issued a decision, pursuant to which Tomasz Braniewski, the owner of Invest-Net Braniewski Tomasz, shall return payments unduly taken from his clients. The businessman ran the following websites: ale-gratka.pl, bez-posrednikow.pl, ofertynet.com.pl, ale-gratka.com, alegratka.eu, top-gratka.com. He accepted payments from his clients for posting advertisements concerning property sale and purchase.

UOKiK started an investigation after being informed by consumers. During the investigation it was found out that consumers were not clearly and reliably informed about the price of services rendered to them. In order to post an advert, a consumer had to fill in a form in one of the businessman’s websites, accept the Rules and Regulations and hit the button ‘Submit Your Offer’. There was no information whatsoever that submitting an offer is subject to a fee. A 3-month period of free-of-charge testing the service followed. Consumers were not informed, however, that following the three months the service will be charged (even up to PLN 500 per each consecutive month). The clients learned about it only from Calls for Payment submitted to them after the free-of-charge period of using the service. Moreover, they could not resign from the service immediately, as a notice period fixed by Tomasz Braniewski ranged from one to three months depending on a contract. This means that a maximum cost of a service could amount to even PLN 1,500.00.

The businessman did not accompany the ‘Submit Your Offer’ button with a warning that the submission triggers the obligation of paying a fee, which is contrary to the Consumer Rights Act. Failure to fulfil that obligation makes the transaction null and void by statute.

Moreover, Invest-Net Braniewski Tomasz did not abide by the duty of information i.e. in the scope of informing about the business name of his undertaking, price of services and the term of a contract, which made it difficult to the consumers to make claims.

A consumer warning was issued by UOKiK President in the case of Invest-Net Braniewski Tomasz, as well as an investigation was conducted, which resulted in a decision. During the investigation the businessman closed all the websites related to him and discontinued all the illegal practices.

The businessman undertook to return money to his clients for services paid within 14 days of their request. Moreover, he shall inform his clients by e-mail that:

• the contracts are null and void,
• the clients are not in default whatsoever towards the businessman and
• the clients may file a request for return of unduly paid amounts.

UOKiK is going to monitor the actions concerned. Any doubts concerning the execution of the decision may be shared at uokik@uokik.gov.pl

Additional info for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314 , 55 60 111
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl

Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL