The company has been inviting consumers to meetings it organises ostensibly to give them free cardiovascular tests, but actually to attempt to sell them paramedical equipment. UOKiK has ordered it to immediately discontinue that and other unfair practices.

Misleading consumers and omitting relevant information that would help them decide whether to enter into a contract is prohibited under the law on unfair commercial practices. Both actions could lead consumers to make decisions they would not if they had access to reliable information. The failure to disclose the commercial purpose of a company practice amounts to omitting essential information to mislead consumers.

Based in Poznan, VRM sells a paramedical device called a magnetic field generator, which it sells mainly at presentations organised off company premises. During its proceedings for the case, UOKiK established that the company was inviting middle-aged and senior consumers by phone and letter to come for free cardiovascular tests within the framework of the Health Academy. VRM’s real goal, however, was to pitch their product, a fact consumers were never informed of. UOKiK challenged the practice because the company is required by law to inform consumers of the real goal of the meeting — to present their offer and sign sales contracts.

To gain consumers’ trust, VRM informed them it was conducting the tests in collaboration with a well-known University. In the Authority’s view, those who attended the meetings were misled because the company had merely signed a civil law agreement with a single university staff member. UOKiK has ordered the company to halt the practices it has challenged and made the decision immediately enforceable. It also imposed a fine of 145,000 PLN (ca. 33,000 EUR). The decision is not final and may be appealed.

Additional information for the media:

Press Office, UOKiK
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Phone.: +48 22 827 28 92, +48 22 55 60 314, +48 22 55 60 430
E-mail: [SCODE]Yml1cm9wcmFzb3dlQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]

Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL