Eight out of ten controlled cases in furniture and mattress sector in violation
Competent minister David Clarinval. – © Frank Abbeloos
Between April 1 and December 6, 2024, the Economic Inspectorate of the Federal Public Service Economics investigated 155 companies in the furniture and mattress sales in Belgium. Almost 83 percent of the cases were in violation. A total of 537 infringements were diagnosed, on average 2.38 per company. The FPS Economy announced this on Monday.
The main violations were about order vouchers (198 infringements), price indication: 72 violations for the price of goods and 44 with the price for services (delivery, installation), transparency on websites and social networks (79 infringements), advertisements with discounts (53 infringements) and electronic infringements (50 infringements).
The research also revealed some other infringements. For example, there were 28 things that did not have their registration in the Kruispuntbank van Enterprises or had not updated their data. In addition, 13 companies violated the legal limit of 3,000 euros for accepting cash payments.
« For the 537 offenses, 155 warnings were issued and 19 official reports were drawn up. PVs were only given if it concerned several or serious infringements or if the warning did not lead to an adjustment. The most of the controlled companies were willing to correct the infringements, which was also the same with the Nacontrole of the Report of the Repole It sounds like Lien Meurisse, spokeswoman for the FPS Economy.
Clarinval: “Consulting sector”
« I will consult the sector to investigate how we can improve the knowledge of legislation among traders, so that every entrepreneur knows what is expected of him or her. Together we can work on more clarity, honesty and professionalism in the sale of furniture and bedding, » says Economy David Clarinval.
Between 2020 and 2023, the Economic Inspectorate received notifications about 1,309 furniture stores. They were mainly about the delivery and price indication.
