Indication of Prices

Directive 98/6/EC on consumer protection in the indication of prices of products offered to consumers S.L. 378.09 - Consumer Affairs Act (Price Indications) Regulations Traders have the obligation to indicate the selling price and the unit price of all products offered to the consumers, therefore facilitating price comparisons. Price indication is regulated by means of Directive 98/6/EC. Prices indicated must be unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible for all products offered by traders to consumers. However, the unit price need not be indicated if it is identical to the selling price. The Directive lays down that any advertisement which mentions the selling price must also indicate the unit price. The Maltese Consumer Affairs Act (Price Indication) Regulations provide that were more than one item of the same kind, size, type or brand of the same goods are displayed for sale, it will be sufficient for the price to be shown on only one of such items. Where goods, including foodstuffs are sold or offered for sale to consumers per unit, weight or volume, the trader must indicate both the actual price, being the price for a given quantity of the good, and the unit price, being the final price for one kilogram, one litre, one meter, or one cubic meter of the goods. The unit price for pre-packaged food products presented in a liquid medium must refer to the net drained weight of the product. For pre-packaged goods, sold in pre-established or variable quantities both the selling price and the unit price must be shown. Products sold in bulk must also show the unit price. Any charges relating to postage, package or delivery of a good shall be indicated in a clearly legible, unambiguous and easily identifiable manner. In accordance with the Maltese Consumer Affairs Act (Price Indication) Regulations the obligation to indicate the selling price or the unit price does not apply for the following: Goods supplied for the purpose of re-selling; Good sold in the course of the provision of a service; Sales by auction or sales of works of art or antiques; An advertisement for such goods, unless the selling price is indicated in the advertisement.

Consumer Credit
Directive 87/102/EEC concerning consumer credit S.L. 378.10 - Consumer Credit Regulations This Directive, being a full harmonisation directive aims to ensure that all consumers in the Community enjoy a high level and equivalent level of protection of their interests. Member States should not be allowed to introduce or maintain national provisions other than those laid down in the directive. However this restriction is limited to the scope of the Directive as determined by the definitions contained in the same Directive. The new Directive seeks to cover all the new types of credit and to apply harmonised provisions.

1. to receive specified information prior to contract regarding fees, monthly repayments and APR; 2. to withdraw from the contract within the first 14 days; 3. to repay early (this condition is subject to 'fair and objective compensation' to cover lender's costs); 4. to withdraw from the credit contract if any associated purchase is cancelled.
Open-end credit agreements With regards to such agreements, the consumer may effect standard termination of the agreement free of charge at any time unless the parties have agreed on a period of notice, which period may not exceed one month. Also, if agreed in the agreement, the creditor may effect standard termination of the agreement by giving the consumer at lease two months notice. The possibility for the consumer to withdraw from the credit agreement, without giving any reason within 14 calendar days It is laid down in the Directive that the consumer shall have a period of 14 calendar days in which to withdraw from the credit agreement without giving any reason. This period of withdrawal shall begin either from the day of the conclusion of the credit agreement, or from the day on which the consumer receives the contractual terms and conditions and information, whichever date is the latest. The possibility for the consumer, to discharge, at any time, fully or partially, his obligations under the credit agreement This Directive provides for the issue of early repayments. It lays down that the consumer shall be entitled at any time to discharge fully or partially his obligations under a credit agreement. The Directive provides for a solution which grants creditors a limited right to compensation for early repayments. According to the provisions of the Directive, compensation may not exceed 1% of the amount of debt that has been repaid early. If debtors repay within a year before the sums are due, compensation is brought down to 0.5%. However, Member States have the possibility to make exceptions to these thresholds and allow compensations to exceed the 1% threshold in certain cases.