• The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection issued two decisions on companies organising trade shows.
• Vitaldream and R.A.M. Poland sold a Magnetic Field Applicator.
• The companies were misleading consumers as to the characteristics of the device.

The office opened proceedings against Vitaldream (currently in liquidation) from Białe Błota and R.A.M. Polska from Opalenica at the end of 2018. The companies conducted sales outside the premises - organising trade shows. They mainly sold a device called Magnetic Field Applicator (APM). For misleading customers, the companies have to pay a total of almost PLN 80 thousand.

During the demonstrations, consumers received a brochure on the therapeutic properties of magnetic field. This may have suggested that the scope of application of the device is wider than indicated in the instructions for use. Furthermore, even the information contained in the instructions for use was not clinically confirmed - says Marek Niechciał, President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

Moreover, in the case of both companies, the hosts encouraged consumers to buy the device as part of a “promotion”. However, the authority found that sales were always made at standard prices. Whereas information about the companies' products was presented as an “expiring opportunity”. The authority ordered both companies to cease the unlawful practices.

The penalty for Vitaldream amounted to almost PLN 41 thousand (PLN 40,812). Moreover, the company must inform all customers with whom it signed agreements between 1 June 2016 and 15 May 2019 about the decision of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK). The penalty for R.A.M. Polska was almost PLN 38 thousand (PLN 37 878). The company must inform all customers with whom it concluded contracts between 10 January 2017 and 15 May 2019 of the authority's decision.

Support for consumers:

Tel. 801 440 220 or 22 290 89 16 - Consumer Helpline
E-mail: porady@dlakonsumentow.pl
Consumer Ombudsmen - in your city or district

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL