UOKiK is warning consumers that several websites run by Tomasz Braniewski may cause clients to lose significant amounts of money. This is the first consumer warning the competition Authority has issued.

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has received reports that Tomasz Braniewski, owner of the company Invest-Net Braniewski Tomasz in Warsaw, engages in illegal practices. Invest-Net runs the websites ale-gratka.pl, bez-posrednikow.pl, ofertynet.com.pl, ale-gratka.com, alegratka.eu, top-gratka.pl, which take orders from consumers to place real estate advertisements on cooperating portals.

The practice

To use the service, consumers go to one of the websites, fill out a form, accept the rules and hit the „submit offer” button. This entitles them to a three-month trial period. They are not, however, properly informed that they will be charged around 500 PLN for each month beyond the trial period — a fact they discover only upon receipt of their first bill. Worse, they are prevented from immediate withdrawal from the service, because the response period established by Mr. Braniewski ranges from one to three months, sending the maximum cost of the service to 1500 PLN.  

UOKiK’s consumer warning

Because the firm’s illegal practices may cause significant financial loss and other adverse consequences, UOKiK is now warning consumers of the following: the ‘submit offer’ button on Mr. Braniewski’s websites does not prompt the message that placing an ad implies a charge.

The lack of such information means that an agreement cannot, by law, have been concluded, and the requests for payment Mr. Braniewski issues are not in most cases legally binding.

Invest-Net also infringes obligations. It does not, among others, provide the name of the firm, nor inform consumers of the total price of its services, the length of the agreement involved, or the reasons that it may be terminated. In addition to the warning posted on UOKiK’s website, the Authority recently issued a decision stating that Mr. Braniewski has infringed collective consumer interests, and imposed a fine exceeding 21 thousand PLN. The decision may be appealed.

This is the first consumer warning UOKiK has issued. Under the competition and consumer protection Act, warnings are issued when UOKiK has reasonable suspicion that an enterprise is engaging in illegal practices which could expose a large number of consumers to significant financial losses or other adverse effects.

Additional information for the media:

Press Office, UOKiK
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Phone.: +48 22 827 28 92, +48 22 55 60 314, +48 22 55 60 430
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