In Rijswijk, fake reviews are strictly prohibited. Local businesses and online shops are not allowed to post or have false reviews posted. Purchasing positive reviews is considered an unfair trading practice and can lead to fines from the ACM.
What Exactly Are Fake Reviews?
Fake reviews include reviews that:
- Are not from real customers in Rijswijk or elsewhere
- Are written by the company itself or its employees
- Are purchased or exchanged for rewards
- Negative feedback fabricated by competitors
Astroturfing, a form of fake grassroots support, also falls under this and misleads consumers in our region.
Why Are They Prohibited in the Netherlands and Rijswijk?
These practices are misleading and undermine the trust of Rijswijk shoppers. When choosing products or services in local stores or online, residents rely on reliable reviews. False information violates the Unfair Commercial Practices Act.
What Is Allowed for Honest Reviews?
- Companies may invite customers to share a genuine review
- Reviews from customers who received a discount, as long as this is transparently mentioned
- Reviews from influencers, provided they are clearly indicated as sponsored
In Rijswijk, we recommend contacting Het Juridisch Loket Rijswijk for advice if in doubt.
Obligations for Review Platforms
Since 2022, platforms such as Google or Trustpilot must:
- Take active steps to combat fake reviews
- Be transparent about their control mechanisms
- Clearly indicate which reviews are verified
This helps Rijswijk consumers shop more safely online.
How to Recognize Fake Reviews?
Watch for these warning signs in reviews of local services:
- Overly enthusiastic or extremely negative language
- General descriptions without specific details
- A sudden influx of reviews
- The reviewer has only reviewed one product or service
Reporting Fake Reviews as a Rijswijk Resident
Report suspicious fake reviews to the Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM) and the relevant platform. For personal legal advice in Rijswijk, you can go to Het Juridisch Loket Rijswijk or, in case of disputes, the Rechtbank Rijswijk. The Gemeente Rijswijk also provides information on consumer rights via their website.
Veelgestelde vragen
Wat is mijn retourrecht?
Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.
Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?
Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.
Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?
Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.
Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?
Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.
Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?
Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.